play Hear it!

play Definition

play (plā)

intransitive verb

  1. to move lightly, rapidly, or erratically; flutter sunlight playing on the waves
  2. to amuse oneself, as by taking part in a game or sport; engage in recreation
  3. to take active part in a game or sport not playing because of an injury
  4. to engage in a game for stakes; gamble
    1. to act, deal, or touch carelessly or lightly; trifle: with a thing or person
    2. Obsolete to engage in sexual activity; dally
  6. to perform on a musical instrument
  7. to give out sounds, esp. musical sounds: said of an instrument, phonograph or tape recorder, etc.
  8. to lend itself to performance a drama that does not play well
  9. to act in a specified way; esp., to pretend to be to play dumb
  10. to act in or as in a drama; perform on the stage
  11. to be performed or presented in a theater, on radio or TV, etc. what movie is playing?
  12. to move freely within limits, as parts of a machine
  13. to be ejected, discharged, or directed repeatedly or continuously, as a fountain, a spotlight, etc.: with on, over, or along
  14. to impose unscrupulously (on another's feelings or susceptibilities)
  15. Informal to achieve acceptance, success, etc.

Etymology: ME plein < OE plegan, to play, be active

transitive verb

    1. to take part in (a game or sport)
    2. to be stationed at (a specified position) in a sport
  2. to oppose (a person, team, etc.) in a game or contest
  3. to enter or use (a player, etc.) in a game or contest
  4. to do (something), as in fun or to deceive play tricks
    1. to bet
    2. ☆ to bet on play the horses
    3. ☆ to act on the basis of play a hunch
  6. ☆ to speculate in (the stock market)
  7. to cause to move, act, operate, etc.; wield; ply
  8. to put (a specified card) into play to play an ace
  9. to cause or effect to play havoc
  10. to perform (music)
    1. to perform on (a musical instrument)
    2. to cause (a phonograph, phonograph record, tape recorder, tape, etc.) to give out sounds, images, etc.
  12. to accompany or lead (someone) with music: with in, off, etc.
  13. to perform (a drama or dramatic passage)
  14. to act the part of to play Iago, to play the fool
  15. to imitate the activities of, as children do for amusement to play teacher, to play house
  16. ☆ to give performances in to play Boston for a week
  17. to eject or direct (water, light, etc.) repeatedly or continuously (on, over, or along)
  18. to let (a hooked fish) tire itself by tugging at the line
  19. ☆ to use or exploit (a person) played him for a fool

noun

  1. action, motion, or activity, esp. when free, rapid, or light the play of muscles
  2. freedom or scope for motion or action, esp. of a mechanism
  3. activity engaged in for amusement or recreation; sport, games, etc.; often, specif., the natural activities of children
  4. fun; joking to do a thing in play
    1. the playing of a game
    2. the way or technique of playing a game
    1. a maneuver, move, or act in a game; specif., a planned, coordinated action executed by members of a team during a game
    2. a turn at playing
  7. the act of gambling
  8. a dramatic composition or performance; drama
  9. Obsolete sexual activity; dalliance

play Related Forms

play′·able adjective

play Idioms

in (or out of) play

Sports in (or not in) the condition for continuing play: said of a ball, etc.

make a play for

Informal
  1. to employ one's arts and wiles in order to attract, esp. sexually
  2. to use all one's skill in order to obtain

play along (with)

to join in or cooperate (with)

play around

  1. to engage in trifling activity
    1. to engage lightly in passing love affairs
    2. to be sexually unfaithful

play at

  1. to participate in
  2. to pretend to be engaged in
  3. to perform or work at halfheartedly

play back

to give out or cause to give out (sounds, images, etc.) that have been recorded on (a tape, disc, etc.)

play both ends against the middle

☆
  1. to maneuver alternatives in order to win something, no matter what the outcome
  2. to play off opposing factions, etc. against one another to one's own profit

play catch-up ball

☆

Sports to adjust one's style of play so as to make up for a lack of points, runs, etc.

play down

to attach little importance, or give little publicity, to; minimize

played out

  1. finished
  2. worn out; exhausted
  3. out-of-date

play fair

  1. to play according to the rules
  2. to behave honorably

play for time

to maneuver so as to delay an outcome, gain a respite, etc.

play into someone's hands

to act in such a way as to give the advantage to someone

play it

to act in a (specified) manner to play it smart

play off

  1. to pit (a person or thing) against another
  2. ☆ in games, to break (a tie) by playing once more
  3. to react to or interact with, as in a drama
  4. Archaic to palm off

play one's cards well

or play one's cards right

to use one's resources in the most effective manner

play out

  1. to play to the finish
  2. pay out (sense ) (see phrase under pay)

play up

☆

Informal to give prominence to

play through

to pass another foursome or group with their permission, while playing a round of golf

play up to

Informal to try to please by flattery, etc.

play Synonyms

play

n.

  1. Amusement

    enjoyment, diversion, pleasure; see entertainment 1.

  2. Recreation

    relaxation, game, sport; see entertainment 2.

  3. Fun

    frolic, happiness, sportiveness; see fun.

  4. A drama

    piece, musical, theatrical; see drama 1, performance 2, show 2.

  5. Sport

    exhibition, match, tryout; see sport 1, 3.

  6. Action

    activity, movement, working; see action 1.

make a play for*

make advances to, court, try for; see try 1.

play Synonyms

play

v.

  1. To amuse oneself

    entertain oneself, revel, make merry, carouse, play games, rejoice, have a good time, idle away, horse around*.

    Antonyms mourn*, grieve*, sulk. *

  2. To gambol

    frisk, sport, cavort, joke, dance, romp, frolic, play games, make jokes, be a practical joker, jump, jump about, skip, frolic, caper, cut capers*, cut up*, show off*, be the life of the party*, play the fool*, carry on*. *

    Antonyms drag*, mope*, droop. *

  3. To produce music

    perform, execute, operate, work, cause to sound, finger, pedal, bow, plunk, tinkle, pipe, toot, mouth, pump, fiddle, sound, strike, saw, scrape, twang, pound, thump, tickle.

  4. To display light, erratic movement

    waltz, spout, flicker; see dance 1, 2.

  5. To act in a play

    impersonate, present, represent; see act 3, perform 2.

  6. To engage in sport

    participate, engage, rival; see compete, contest 2.

  7. To pretend

    imagine, suppose, think; see pretend 1.

  8. To gamble

    chance, risk, hazard; see gamble 1.

play Usage Examples

Object

  • role: A chapter on the role played by Pope John Paul II in the final years of the Cold War would also have been welcome.
  • game: These were very good for playing the war games which obsessed us all.
  • part: Actors will be flown in from Holland to play the part of the Dutch team.
  • football: There are some youths outside playing football in a 'No Ball Zone ' .
  • guitar: He loved to dance, play the guitar or ukulele; he was a real actor.
  • host: From the earliest days of the moving image, the Empire played host to the technological advances of cinema.

Converse of object

write: His first play written with Esme Wynne was written in 1917.

Adjective modifier

  • fair: So fair play, he's self recorded and written a pretty reasonable middle of the road album.
  • outdoor: Outdoor play Weather permitting; children are encouraged to take some ' fresh air ' .

Modifies a noun

  • sudoku: Play sudoku online, play sudoku puzzle for fun.. .
  • area: There's also a play area for the children.
  • equipment: PLAY AREAS The children's play areas provide a wide range of play equipment including an adventure play frame.

Noun used with modifier

  • role: You can find alternative answers to the role play tasks in the Comment section of each exercise.
  • adventure: PLAY AREAS The children's play areas provide a wide range of play equipment including an adventure play frame.
  • game: A seamless movement from training through introduction of story elements to full game play took careful planning.
  • morality: Instead of producing a drama-documentary of events, Spielberg manages a limp morality play which becomes very tiresome.

Preposition: in

league: There are currently four teams playing in the Jamaican league.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: This would be an awesome kite for playing around in waves.
  • along: I knew he had played along with the British, but this was a ploy - or was it?
  • on: So, which wheel do you think this columnist would recommend you to play on?