play-off

noun

Definition of play-offnext
as in championship

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of play-off Vojvodina had beaten Atletico Madrid in a play-off to earn their place and won the first leg against Celtic 1-0. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Following the qualifying and play-off rounds, seven clubs survived to join the 29 squads that qualified in advance. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026 In great news, the Minnesota Lynx’s were the first team to clinch a play-off spot, a top spot at that. — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 The Maroons ascended back to France's top tier in the summer after winning their play-off match to return after just a single season. — Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play-off
  1. championship
  2. semifinal
  3. final
  4. derby
Noun
  • Last year, the Horned Frogs rode the dynamic duo of Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez to the Elite Eight and a regular season Big 12 championship and trip to the Elite Eight.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the restriction on Friday after multiple appeals from the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, allowing the country’s men’s and women’s teams to compete in the 2027 championships.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of championship
Noun
  • The Kazakhstan star will face Leylah Fernandez for the title after the Canadian beat Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5 in the other semifinal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The senior forward/midfielder scored his eighth goal of the season, lifting the Warriors to a 2-1 win over Marist in a Class 3A Rich Township Regional semifinal in Richton Park.
    — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of semifinal
Noun
  • Both droughts ended Thursday when Winter Park sophomore Eden Bastian won the girls championship in an all-Orange County final, and Windermere High’s Ryan Martin came out of the loser’s bracket to win the boys title.
    — Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Senior libero Kaylee Foreman, a Yale University commit, delivered another strong performance in the regional final.
    — Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of final
Noun
  • Joseph Paintsil scored his first two goals since August as the Galaxy hung on impressively for a point, but endangered their own playoff hopes by blowing the lead in another thrilling El Tráfico derby.
    — Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In a departure from the typical tux, George sported a navy suit, adding a bow tie and a crisp white button-down, along with some black leather derby shoes.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of derby

Browse Nearby Words

playmates
play-off
play-offs
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Cite this Entry

“Play-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play-off. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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