Synonyms of game

game 1 of 2

noun

ˈgām 

1

as in tournament

a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize

decided he would indulge in a friendly basketball game with his friends before dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tournament
• competition
• event
• match
• championship
• contest
• sport
• tourney
• matchup
• bout
• meet
• sweepstakes
• battle
• skirmish
• race
• athletics
• semifinal
• scrimmage
• derby
• tug-of-war
• final
• struggle
• outing
• tussle
• marathon
• play-off
• conflict
• open
• round
• gymkhana
• pentathlon
• triathlon
• field day
• biathlon
• national(s)
• decathlon
• runoff
• heat
• volley
• rubber
• nightcap
• round-robin
• ultramarathon
• rally
• seesaw
• heptathlon
• set
• classic
• run
• sudden death
• dead heat
• photo finish

2

as in strategy

a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective

the crook told his accomplice, "Here's the game: look surprised when the police ask about the money"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strategy
• plan
• blueprint
• program
• project
• system
• design
• scheme
• arrangement
• game plan
• master plan
• proposal
• road map
• ground plan
• way
• recipe
• idea
• procedure
• plot
• device
• gambit
• technique
• purpose
• collusion
• intention
• tactic
• intent
• maneuver
• conspiracy
• map
• stratagem
• means
• subterfuge
• ruse
• policy
• aim
• trick
• protocol
• platform
• conception
• setup
• contrivance
• formula
• layout
• counterstrategy
• pattern
• counterplan
• diagram
• specific(s)
• projet
• specification(s)

3

as in play

an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously

there's no need to get upset, all our teasing is only a game

Synonyms & Similar Words

• play
• fun
• sport
• silliness
• jest
• frivolity
• levity
• flippancy
• facetiousness
• frivolousness
• flightiness
• light-mindedness
• frothiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• earnest
• gravity
• seriousness
• earnestness
• sobriety
• solemnity
• soberness

4

as in profession

the activity by which one regularly makes a living

stand-up comedy is his game, and he's one of a handful of people making a decent living at it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• profession
• work
• vocation
• occupation
• line
• employment
• calling
• trade
• job
• mission
• business
• task
• duty
• living
• place
• lay
• livelihood
• art
• assignment
• field
• enterprise
• position
• situation
• engagement
• call
• racket
• office
• function
• gig
• craft
• post
• load
• lifework
• workload
• handicraft
• appointment
• handcraft
• métier
• berth
• billet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pursuit
• hobby
• avocation

5

as in area

a region of activity, knowledge, or influence

the education game simply was no longer of interest to her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• area
• element
• realm
• field
• department
• walk
• domain
• sphere
• kingdom
• terrain
• arena
• territory
• province
• specialty
• business
• circle
• front
• discipline
• study
• precinct
• line
• firmament
• fief
• subject
• barony
• bailiwick
• demesne
• fiefdom
• profession
• pursuit
• frontier
• confine
• scope
• turf
• racket
• occupation
• vocation
• reach
• sweep
• extent
• compass
• width
• amplitude
• breadth
• subspecialty
• subfield
• ambit
• ken
• dimension(s)

game

2 of 2

adjective

as in ready

having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action)

are you game for going out tonight?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ready
• willing
• glad
• inclined
• minded
• prepared
• cooperative
• disposed
• amenable
• obliging
• excited
• fain
• prone
• favorable
• responsive
• obedient
• compliant
• eager
• receptive
• submissive
• swift
• accommodating
• prompt
• agreeable
• enthusiastic
• quick
• predisposed
• desirous
• enthused

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unwilling
• reluctant
• averse
• loath
• reticent
• unamenable
• disinclined

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun game differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of game are fun, jest, play, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When could fun be used to replace game?

While in some cases nearly identical to game, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

When can jest be used instead of game?

While the synonyms jest and game are close in meaning, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When is play a more appropriate choice than game?

The synonyms play and game are sometimes interchangeable, but play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

When might sport be a better fit than game?

The meanings of sport and game largely overlap; however, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of game

Noun

Rod and Victoria Maquinana arrived two hours before game time to get a shady seat with a good view of the screen. —John Ramos, CBS News, 14 June 2026

Pasquantino was 1 for 3 before exiting Saturday’s game. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 June 2026

Adjective

Towns, a seemingly very nice guy who can’t help but betray his emotional fluctuations, sometimes showed up to his post-game pressers in a foul mood, speaking cryptically about his discomfort within the new scheme. —Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 June 2026

Another Santa Clara University team, Little Saigon, presented a plan to make heritage nights at SAP Center and other arenas a more culturally immersive experience for fans, including more partnerships with local food vendors, pre-game activities like night markets. —Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 2 June 2026

Phrases Containing game

• ball game
• game plan
• name of the game
• shell game