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play
[ pley ]
noun
- a dramatic composition or piece; drama.
- a dramatic performance, as on the stage.
Synonyms: show
- exercise or activity for amusement or recreation.
Antonyms: work
- fun or jest, as opposed to seriousness:
I said it merely in play.
- a pun:
On this article about encroaching grizzlies, the headline “Bear with us” is a play on the word “bear.”
- the playing, action, or conduct of a game:
The pitcher was replaced in the fourth inning of play.
- the manner or style of playing or of doing something:
We admired his fine play throughout the game.
- an act or instance of playing or of doing something:
a stupid play that cost us the match.
- one's turn to play:
Whose play is it?
- a playing for stakes; gambling.
- an attempt to accomplish something, often in a manner showing craft or calculation; maneuver:
They tried to buy up the stock in a takeover play.
- an enterprise or venture; deal:
an oil and drilling play.
- action, conduct, or dealing of a specified kind:
fair play;
foul play.
- action, activity, or operation:
the play of fancy.
- brisk, light, or changing movement or action:
a fountain with a leaping play of water.
- elusive change or movement, as of light or colors:
the play of a searchlight against the night sky.
- a space in which something, as a part of a mechanism, can move.
- freedom of movement within a space, as of a part of a mechanism.
Synonyms: freedom
- freedom for action, or scope for activity:
full play of the mind.
Synonyms: freedom
- attention in the press or other media; coverage; dissemination as news:
The birth of the panda got a big play in the papers.
- an act or instance of being broadcast:
The governor's speech got two plays on our local station.
verb (used with object)
- 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.
Synonyms: enact
- 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.
Synonyms: impersonate, personate
- 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.
- to function or perform as (a specified player) in a game or competition:
He usually plays left field.
- to employ (a piece of equipment, a player, etc.) in a game:
I played my highest card.
Synonyms: use
- to use as if in playing a game, as for one's own advantage:
He played his brothers against each other.
- to stake or wager, as in a game.
Synonyms: bet
- to lay a wager or wagers on (something).
Synonyms: back
- to represent or imitate, as for recreation or in jest:
to play pirates.
- to perform on (a musical instrument).
- to perform (music) on an instrument.
- to cause (a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to produce sound or pictures:
Do you mind if I play the radio?
Stop playing YouTube videos and get to work!
- to do or perform:
You shouldn't play tricks.
Compromise plays an important part in marriage.
- to carry or put into operation; act upon:
to play a hunch.
- to cause to move or change lightly or quickly:
to play colored lights on a fountain.
- to operate or cause to operate, especially continuously or with repeated action:
to play a hose on a fire.
- to allow (a hooked fish) to exhaust itself by pulling on the line.
- to display or feature (a news story, photograph, etc.), especially prominently:
Play the flood photos on page one.
- to exploit or trade in (an investment, business opportunity, stock, etc.).
verb (used without object)
- to exercise or employ oneself in diversion, amusement, or recreation.
- to do something in sport that is not to be taken seriously.
Synonyms: dally
- to take part or engage in a game.
- to take part in a game for stakes; gamble.
- to conduct oneself or act in a specified way:
to play fair.
- to act on or as if on the stage; perform.
- to perform on a musical instrument.
- (of an instrument or music) to sound in performance:
The strings are playing well this evening.
- (of a phonograph, radio, recording, etc.) to give forth sound:
The radio played all night.
- to be performed or shown:
What's playing at the movie theater around the corner?
- to be capable of or suitable for performance, as a television or dramatic script:
We hope this scene will play well.
- Informal. to be accepted or effective; fare:
How will the senator's proposal play with the public?
- to move freely within a space, as a part of a mechanism.
- to move about lightly or quickly:
The water of the fountain played in the air.
- to present the effect of such motion, as light or the changing colors of an iridescent substance:
The lights played strangely over the faces of the actors.
- to operate continuously or with repeated action.
- Informal. to comply or cooperate:
They wanted her to tell them what she knew about the plans, but she refused to play.
verb phrase
- to cooperate or concur; go along.
- to pretend to cooperate or concur.
- to pretend interest in:
It's obvious that you're just playing at fishing for my sake.
- to do something without seriousness:
He is merely playing at being a student.
- Sports. to play an extra game or round in order to settle a tie.
- Sports. to engage in an elimination game or games after the regular season is over in order to determine the champion.
- to set (one person or thing) against another, usually for one's own gain or advantage:
The children could usually get what they wanted by playing one parent off against the other.
- Informal.
- to behave in a playful or frivolous manner; fool around.
- to be sexually promiscuous.
- to be sexually unfaithful.
- to exploit, as the feelings or weaknesses of another; take selfish advantage of:
She would never think of playing on the good nature of others.
- to evolve or progress toward a conclusion; unfold; turn out:
Right now it’s too early to tell how all this will play out.
- to come or bring to an end; finish:
The full consequences of the decision have yet to be played out.
- to play to the end of (something):
When the camera started rolling, I knew exactly how much time I had to play out the full scene.
- to use up or be used up; exhaust or be exhausted:
Mining towns quickly sprouted, and just as quickly disappeared once the coal supply played out.
And when that groundwater supply is played out, then what?
- to reel or pay out, as a rope, line, etc.:
By the time he reached the bottom of the cavern, his friends on the surface had played out 150 feet of rope.
- to treat as of little importance; minimize:
He has consistently played down his own part in the successful enterprise.
- to emphasize the importance of; highlight or publicize:
The schools are playing up their science programs.
- to play (a recording, especially one newly made):
Play it back and let's hear how I sound.
play
/ pleɪ /
verb
- to occupy oneself in (a sport or diversion); amuse oneself in (a game)
- tr to contend against (an opponent) in a sport or game
Ed played Tony at chess and lost
- to fulfil or cause to fulfil (a particular role) in a team game
he plays in the defence
he plays defence
- tr to address oneself to (a ball) in a game
play the ball not the man
- intr; often foll by about or around to behave carelessly, esp in a way that is unconsciously cruel or hurtful; trifle or dally (with)
to play about with a young girl's affections
- whenintr, often foll by at to perform or act the part (of) in or as in a dramatic production; assume or simulate the role (of)
to play the villain
just what are you playing at?
- to act out or perform (a dramatic production)
- to give a performance in (a place) or (of a performance) to be given in a place
- intr to be received
How will these policies play in Middle England?
- to have the ability to perform on (a musical instrument)
David plays the harp
- to perform (on a musical instrument) as specified
he plays out of tune
- tr
- to reproduce (a tune, melody, piece of music, note, etc) on an instrument
- to perform works by (a specific composer)
to play Brahms
- to discharge or cause to discharge
he played the water from the hose onto the garden
- to operate, esp to cause (a record player, radio, etc) to emit sound or (of a record player, radio, etc) to emit (sound)
the radio was playing loudly
he played a record
- to move or cause to move freely, quickly, or irregularly
lights played on the scenery
- tr stock exchange to speculate or operate aggressively for gain in (a market)
- tr angling to attempt to tire (a hooked fish) by alternately letting out and reeling in line and by using the rod's flexibility
- to put (a card, counter, piece, etc) into play
- to gamble (money) on a game
- play ball informal.to cooperate
- play fair or play fair with someoneto prove oneself fair in one's dealings
- play false or play fair with someoneto prove oneself unfair in one's dealings
- play by earSee ear 1
- play for timeto delay the outcome of some activity so as to gain time to one's own advantage
- play into the hands ofto act directly to the advantage of (an opponent)
- play the foolSee fool 1
- play the gameSee game 1
noun
- a dramatic composition written for performance by actors on a stage, on television, etc; drama
- the performance of a dramatic composition
- ( in combination )
playreader
- games, exercise, or other activity undertaken for pleasure, diversion, etc, esp by children
- ( in combination )
playroom
- ( as modifier )
play dough
- manner of action, conduct, or playing
fair play
- the playing or conduct of a game or the period during which a game is in progress
rain stopped play
- a move or manoeuvre in a game
a brilliant play
- the situation of a ball that is within the defined area and being played according to the rules (in the phrases in play, out of play )
- a turn to play
it's my play
- the act of playing for stakes; gambling
- action, activity, or operation
the play of the imagination
- freedom of or scope or space for movement
too much play in the rope
- light, free, or rapidly shifting motion
the play of light on the water
- fun, jest, or joking
I only did it in play
- call into playto bring into operation
- make a play for informal.
- to make an obvious attempt to gain
- to attempt to attract or seduce
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Derived Forms
- ˈplayable, adjective
- ˌplayaˈbility, noun
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Other Words From
- play·ing·ly adverb
- play·less adjective
- play·like adjective
- coun·ter·play noun
- non·play·ing adjective
- self-play·ing adjective
- un·played adjective
- un·play·ing adjective
- well-played adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of play1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of play1
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Idioms and Phrases
- bring into play, to put into motion; cause to be introduced:
New evidence has been brought into play in this trial.
- come to play, Informal. to be disposed to play or participate in a manner reflecting a determination to win or succeed:
We're a small new business, but we came to play.
- in / out of play, in or not in the state of being played during a game:
The umpire says the ball was not in play.
- make a play for, Informal.
- to try to attract, especially sexually:
He made a play for his friend's girlfriend.
- to attempt to gain by impressing favorably:
This ad will make a play for new consumer markets.
- play both ends against the middle, to maneuver opposing groups in order to benefit oneself.
- play by ear, to play (music or a musical instrument) without printed music, as by memory of what one has heard or by unschooled musical instinct.
- play fast and loose, to act in an irresponsible or inconsiderate manner, especially to employ deception to gain one's ends:
to play fast and loose with someone's affections.
- play for time, to prolong something in order to gain an advantage; forestall an event or decision:
Their maneuvering at the conference was obviously calculated to play for time.
- play into someone's hands, to act in such a way as to give an advantage to (someone, especially an opponent): Also play into the hands of.
If you lose your temper when he insults you, you will be playing right into his hands.
- play it by ear, to improvise, especially in a challenging situation when confronted by unknown factors:
If you can't come up with a plan, we'll just have to play it by ear.
- play it safe, to act cautiously; avoid risk or danger: Also play safe.
She usually plays it safe on the red carpet, wearing simple, classic designs.
- play up to, Informal. to attempt to impress in order to gain someone's favor:
Students who too obviously play up to their teachers are usually disliked by their classmates.
- play with oneself, Informal. to masturbate.
- played out,
- play ball. ball 1( def 26 ).
- play hardball. hardball ( def 4 ).
- play one's cards right. card 1( def 22 ).
- play politics. politics ( def 8 ).
- play possum. possum ( def 3 ).
- play second fiddle. second fiddle ( def 2 ).
- play the field. field ( def 39 ).
- play the game. game 1( def 29 ).
- play with a full deck. deck ( def 23 ).
- play with fire. fire ( def 57 ).
More idioms and phrases containing play
- all work and no play
- child's play
- devil's advocate, play
- fair play
- foul play
- game that two can play
- grandstand play
- in play
- make a play for
- musical chairs, play
- squeeze play
- trump card, play one's
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Synonym Study
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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