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1. Dictionary

   play

   /pleɪ/

   verb

   • 1. engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose: "the children were playing by a pool" Similar amuse oneselfentertain oneselfenjoy oneselfhave funhave a good timerelaxrestbe at leisureoccupy oneselfdivert oneselfplay gamesfrolicfriskgambolrompcavortcaperinformal:mess aboutmess aroundlark (about)lark (around)dated:sportarchaic, humorous:disport oneself
   • ▪ engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment: "I want to play Snakes and Ladders" Similar take part inparticipate inengage inbe involved injoin incompete indo
   • ▪ amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence: "the boys were playing cops and robbers"
   • 2. take part in (a sport): "I play squash and badminton" Similar take part inparticipate inengage inbe involved injoin incompete indo
   • ▪ participate in (a sporting match or contest): "the squad will have played 14 games in six weeks" Similar take part inparticipate inengage inbe involved injoin incompete indo
   • ▪ compete against (another player or team) in a sporting match: "the team will play France on Wednesday" Similar compete againstcontend againstopposetake onchallengevie withrival
   • ▪ be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a sporting contest: "he played in goal"
   • ▪ strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game: "was he in an offside position when his teammate played the ball?"
   • ▪ (of a cricket ground) be in such condition as to have a specified effect on play.
   • ▪ assign to take part in a match, especially in a specified position: "the manager played his strongest side of the season"
   • ▪ 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 gamble or play the ponies"
   • 3. be cooperative: "he needs financial backing, but the building societies won't play"
   • 4. represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film: "early in her career she played Ophelia" Similar act the part ofplay the part ofacttake the role ofenactrepresentperformappear asportraydepictimpersonatepretend to beexecuterenderinterpretrare:personate
   • ▪ perform in a film or theatrical production: "he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor"
   • ▪ put on or take part in (a theatrical performance, film, or concert): "the show was one of the best we ever played"
   • ▪ give a dramatic performance at (a particular theatre or place): "the company are playing 11 cities around the country"
   • ▪ behave as though one were (a specified type of person): "the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel"
   • 5. perform on (a musical instrument): "a man was playing a guitar"
   • ▪ 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 disc, music player, or other device) produce sounds or recorded images: "someone is playing a record—I can hear the drum"
   • ▪ (of a musical instrument, music player, or other device) produce sounds or recorded images: "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"
   • 6. move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker: "little beams of light played over the sea" Similar move lightlydanceflitdartripplelicktouch
   • ▪ (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water: "a fountain played in the courtyard"
   • 7. 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 aeroplane" Similar amusemententertainmentrelaxationrecreationenjoymentpleasurediversiondistractionleisurefungamesfun and gamesplayfulnesshorseplayskylarkinglarksa good timejollificationjunketingmerrymakingrevelryinformal:living it updated:sportOpposite work
   • ▪ behaviour or speech that is not intended seriously: "I flinched, but only in play"
   • ▪ designed to be used in games of pretence; not real: "play families are arranged in play houses"
   • 2. the conducting of a sporting match: "rain wrecked 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: "someone has a bright idea and decides to put it into play" Similar actionactivityoperationmovementmotionagencyemploymentworkingfunctionfunctioningexerciseinteractioninterplay
   • ▪ a move or manoeuvre in a sport or game: "the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs"
   • ▪ the activity of 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 manoeuvreroom to operatescopelatitudeelbow roomspacemargin
   • ▪ scope or freedom to act or operate: "our policy allows the market to have freer play" Similar scoperangelatitudelibertylicencefreedomindulgencefree 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

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   • A

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   • Y

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2. People also ask

   What does play mean?

   • Play is most often used to mean someone is having fun or is using a media device to entertain themselves. Try using play! Which of the following words is most closely related to play? Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

   PLAY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   How many meanings does the noun play have?

   • There are 49 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun play, 12 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. How common is the noun play? How is the noun pronounced? Where does the noun come from? play play is formed within English, by conversion.

   play, n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English Dictionary

   www.oed.com/dictionary/play_n

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   How do you describe a play?

   • A play is a piece of writing performed in a theatre, on the radio, or on television. My uncle wrote a play about his father. children When children play, they spend time using toys and taking part in games. She was playing with her dolls. musical instrument If you play an instrument, you make music with it.

   PLAY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/play

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   How is play play formed in English?

   • play play is formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: play v. play, n. Old English– play, v. Old English–

   play, n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English Dictionary

   www.oed.com/dictionary/play_n

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   PLAY definition: 1. When you play, especially as a child, you spend time doing an enjoyable and/or entertaining…. Learn more.

4. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishPLAY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   42 meanings: 1. to occupy oneself in (a sport or diversion); amuse oneself in (a game) 2. to contend against (an opponent) in a.... Click for more definitions.

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

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   play: [noun] swordplay. game, sport. the conduct, course, or action of a game. a particular act or maneuver in a game: such as. the action during an attempt to advance the ball in football. the action in which a player is put out in baseball. the action in which cards are played after bidding in a card game. the moving of a piece in a board ...

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

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   Play definition: . See examples of PLAY used in a sentence.

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

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   Aug 5, 2013 · play (something) She played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20. The music is well played and beautifully recorded. In the distance a band was playing. play on something He sat in the corner, playing softly on his guitar. play something on something He played a tune on his harmonica. play something to somebody Play that new piece to us.

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › play

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   PLAY definition: 1. to take part in a sport or game: 2. If children play, they enjoy themselves with toys and…. Learn more.

9. www.oed.com › dictionary › play_nplay, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary

   www.oed.com › dictionary › play_n

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   What does the noun play mean? There are 49 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun play, 12 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. play has developed meanings and uses in subjects including. sport (Old English) theatre (Old English) fencing (Old English) games (Old English ...