Synonyms of game

game 1 of 3

noun (1)

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
• sweep-stake
• 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
• position
• enterprise
• situation
• engagement
• call
• racket
• office
• function
• gig
• craft
• post
• load
• lifework
• workload
• handicraft
• appointment
• metier
• 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 3

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
• loth
• disinclined
• loathe

gameness

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in willingness

cheerful readiness to do something

it requires a certain amount of gustatory gameness to try something like rattlesnake or alligator

Synonyms & Similar Words

• willingness
• alacrity
• enthusiasm
• goodwill
• amenability
• quickness
• speed
• obligingness
• zeal
• celerity
• swiftness
• rapidity
• eagerness
• promptness
• responsiveness
• speediness
• promptitude
• heartiness
• geniality
• zest
• fervor
• exuberance
• warmth
• gusto
• agreeableness
• receptivity
• dispatch
• receptiveness
• avidity
• relish
• ardor
• keenness
• good-naturedness
• open-mindedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slowness
• indifference
• sluggishness
• disinterestedness
• doubt
• apathy
• reluctance
• delay
• resistance
• hesitation
• uncertainty
• dilatoriness
• leisureliness
• reticence
• pokiness
• reservation
• vacillation
• hesitancy
• lukewarmness
• unwillingness
• equivocation
• hesitance
• disinclination
• perfunctoriness
• indisposition
• recalcitrance
• halfheartedness
• antipathy
• aversion
• averseness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of game

Noun

The Mets lost 5-4, losing for the first time in eight games. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025

However, there was some redesign for better articulation because characters in the game are straight-limbed. —Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 26 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Kick-off for the game begins at 6:30 p.m. EST, but pre-game festivities, like the national anthem, will start earlier. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 19 Jan. 2025

After the Sunday, Dec. 29 game between Rodgers’ New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills, in which the Jets lost 40-14, the quarterback made a knowing joke during the post-game press conference. —Charna Flam, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024

Phrases Containing game

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