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   Play

   /plā/

   

   verb

   • 1. engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose: "the children were playing outside" Similar amuse oneselfentertain oneselfenjoy oneselfhave funhave a good timerelaxrestbe at leisureoccupy oneselfdivert oneselfplay gamesfrolicfriskgambolrompcavortcaperinformal:mess aroundlark (about)lark (around)dated:sportarchaic, humorous:disport oneself
   • ▪ engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment: "I want to play Monopoly" Similar take part inparticipate inengage inbe involved injoin incompete indo
   • ▪ amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretense: "the boys were playing cops and robbers"
   • 2. take part in (a sport): "I play softball and tennis" Similar take part inparticipate inengage inbe involved injoin incompete indo
   • ▪ participate in (an athletic match or contest): "the Red Sox will play two games on Wednesday" Similar take part inparticipate inengage inbe involved injoin incompete indo
   • ▪ compete against (another player or team) in an athletic match or contest: "the team will play France on Wednesday" Similar compete againstcontend againstopposetake onchallengevie withrival
   • ▪ be cooperative: informal "he needs financial backing, but the bank won't play"
   • ▪ be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a game: "he played shortstop"
   • ▪ strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game: "was he in an offside position when his teammate played the ball?"
   • ▪ assign to take part in an athletic contest, especially in a specified position: "the manager will want to play the right-handed Curtis"
   • ▪ move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game: "he played his queen"
   • ▪ bet or gamble at or on: "he didn't play the ponies"
   • 3. represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film: "she played Ophelia" Similar act the part ofplay the part ofacttake the role ofenactrepresentperformappear asportraydepictimpersonatepretend to beexecuterenderinterpretrare:personate
   • ▪ perform in a theatrical production or on film: "he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor"
   • ▪ put on or take part in (a theatrical performance or concert): "the show was one of the best we ever played"
   • ▪ give a dramatic performance at (a particular theater or place).
   • ▪ behave as though one were (a specified type of person): "the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel"
   • 4. perform on (a musical instrument): "we heard someone playing a harmonica"
   • ▪ possess the skill of performing on (a musical instrument): "he taught himself to play the violin" Similar perform onmake music onblowsoundstrum
   • ▪ produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music): "they played a violin sonata"
   • ▪ make (a music player, disc, radio, etc.) produce sounds: "someone is playing a record—I can hear the drum"
   • ▪ (of a musical instrument, music player, radio, etc.) produce sounds: "somewhere within, a harp was playing"
   • ▪ accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction: "the bagpipes played them out of the dining room"
   • 5. move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker: "a smile played about her lips" Similar move lightlydanceflitdartripplelicktouch
   • ▪ (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water: "a fountain played in the courtyard"
   • 6. allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in: "no fisherman ever played a bonita more carefully or with greater wile"

   noun

   • 1. activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children: "a child at play may use a stick as an airplane" Similar amusemententertainmentrelaxationrecreationenjoymentpleasurediversiondistractionleisurefungamesfun and gamesplayfulnesshorseplayskylarkinglarksa good timejollificationjunketingmerrymakingrevelryinformal:living it updated:sportOpposite work
   • ▪ behavior or speech that is not intended seriously: "I flinched, but only in play"
   • ▪ designed to be used in games of pretense; not real: "play families are arranged in play houses"
   • 2. the conducting of an athletic match or contest: "rain interrupted the second day's play"
   • ▪ the action or manner of engaging in a sport or game: "he maintained the same rhythm of play throughout the game"
   • ▪ the status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules: "the ball was put in play"
   • ▪ the state of being active, operative, or effective: "luck comes into play" Similar actionactivityoperationmovementmotionagencyemploymentworkingfunctionfunctioningexerciseinteractioninterplay
   • ▪ a move or maneuver in a sport or game: "the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs"
   • ▪ gambling: archaic "a young nobleman, ruined by play"
   • 3. a dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast: "the actors put on a new play" Similar dramastage playstage showtheatrical worktheatrical pieceradio playtelevision playteleplayscreenplaycomedytragedyfarcesketchproductionperformancespectacleshow
   • 4. the space in or through which a mechanism can or does move: "the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play" Similar movementfreedom of movementfree motionslackgiveroom to maneuverroom to operatescopelatitudeelbow roomspacemargin
   • ▪ scope or freedom to act or operate: "our policy allows the market to have freer play" Similar scoperangelatitudelibertylicensefreedomindulgencefree reinrelease
   • 5. light and constantly changing movement: "the artist exploits the play of light across the surface"

   Word Origin Old Englishpleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • P

     3

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • Y

     4

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2. People also ask

   What is the meaning of play?

   • to act or sustain (a part) in a dramatic performance or in real life: to play the role of benefactor. to act the part or character of in real life: to play the fool; to play God. to give performances in, as a theatrical company does: to play the larger cities. to engage in (a game, pastime, etc.). to contend against in a game.

   PLAY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What does play a thing mean?

   • play something (with something) Officials are playing politics with farm programs. [intransitive] (usually in negative sentences) (informal) to be willing to work with other people in a helpful way, especially so that somebody can get what they want He needs another loan, but the bank won't play.

   play verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/play_1

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   What is a play in a speech?

   • an act or instance of being broadcast: The governor's speech got two plays on our local station. to act the part of (a person or character) in a dramatic performance; portray: to play Lady Macbeth. to perform (a drama, pantomime, etc.) on or as if on the stage.

   PLAY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What does play a role mean?

   • [transitive] play a part/role (in something) to have an effect on something The media played an important part in the last election. [transitive] play something + adv./prep. to deal with a situation in the way mentioned He played the situation carefully for maximum advantage.

   play verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/play_1

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › playPlay Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › play

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   Play has many meanings and uses as a noun and a verb. It can refer to a type of activity, a state of mind, a way of behaving, a form of entertainment, a form of expression, or a form of communication. See synonyms, examples, and related words for play in this comprehensive dictionary entry.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishPLAY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of play as a verb and a noun in English, with different senses and usage. Find out how to play games, music, sports, and more with examples and synonyms.

5. Videos

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6. www.dictionary.com › browse › playPLAY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › play

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   PLAY is a noun that can mean a dramatic composition or piece, a dramatic performance, a game, a fun or jest, a pun, or the playing of a game. It can also be a verb that means to act, to perform, to move, or to cause something. See synonyms, phrases, and usage examples for each meaning of PLAY.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › playPlay - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › play

   A play is a dramatic work that's written to be staged in a theater and in front of an audience. Your city might offer a free Shakespeare play in the park every year.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionplay verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and examples of the verb play in different contexts, such as games, sports, music, acting and more. Find out how to use play with different forms, idioms and phrasal verbs.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › playPLAY | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › play

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   Learn the definition of play as a verb and a noun in English, with examples of usage and pronunciation. Find out how to use play in different contexts, such as sports, games, music, acting, and more.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionplay verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

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    trick; 3 [transitive] play a trick/tricks (on somebody) to trick someone for fun; sports/games; 4 [transitive, intransitive] to be involved in a game; to compete against someone in a game play something to play football/chess/cards, etc. play somebody The Patriots are playing the Steelers tomorrow. play somebody at something Have you played her at squash yet? play for somebody He plays for ...