play

PLAY/pleɪ/

Verbplays, playing, played

Noun pluralplays

43 meanings of play

Practice

1
amuse oneselfverbintransitive
To do things for fun, as children do.
The children played in the park all afternoon.
Go outside and play.
UsageChildren play with toys. For adults, have fun often fits better.
Similarfrolic, romp, gambol, sport
Oppositework
Note
2
verbtransitive or intransitive
To take part in a sport or game, or to compete against someone in it.
My sister plays basketball for her high school team.
Who wants to play chess?
UsageSay play football, with no the, but play the guitar.
3
verbtransitive
To have a particular role or job.
My little brother is always playing the clown at dinner.
Don't play the hero.
UsageSay something plays a big part in something.
Similarhave, take, fill, perform
Note
4
make musicverbtransitive or intransitive
To make music with an instrument, or to perform a song or tune on it.
My sister likes to play the guitar on our front porch.
Can you play that song again for us on the piano?
UsageSay play the piano, with the.
Similarperform
Note
5
verbtransitive
To act as a character in a film or on the stage.
Who played Scarlett O'Hara in the film?
I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV.
UsageSay she plays Hamlet or plays the part of Hamlet.
Similarportray, act, perform, enact
Note
6
written dramanouncountable
A story written for actors to perform on a stage, or a show of it.
Our high school puts on two plays every year.
She is writing a play about her grandmother.
UsageSay go to a play or see a play.
Similardrama, production, show, piece
7
verbtransitive or intransitive
To use a machine so that it produces sound or pictures.
Can you play the video on the big screen in the living room?
My parents play the radio in the kitchen every morning.
Similarrun
Oppositestop, pause
8
verbtransitive or intransitive
Used about a film, music, a disc or a machine, to be shown or heard, or to work and give out sound.
His latest film is playing at the local cinema.
Films play for a week and then move on.
UsageAsk what's playing at the cinema.
Similarshow, run
Note
9
noununcountable
Activity done for fun, especially by children.
Teachers give young kids plenty of time for play during the school day.
The puppies were tired out from play.
UsageUsually without a: time for play, children at play. A play is a show in a theatre.
Similarrecreation, amusement, fun, leisure
Oppositework, labor
Note
10
noununcountable
The playing of a game, or how well someone plays it.
Play stopped for twenty minutes when a dog ran onto the field.
After the rain, play resumed at three.
UsageSay play started at two, with no the.
Similargame, action
11
single movenouncountable
One move or piece of action in a game.
That was a great play by the forward.
The coach drew up three plays for the final minute.
Similarmove, maneuver, tactic
Note
12
give a showverbtransitive or intransitive
Used about a band or theater group, to give shows at a certain place.
The theater group is playing small towns across the state this summer.
They play the club every Friday.
UsageSay a band played London or played in London.
Similarperform, tour
13
verbintransitive
To treat something carelessly, as if it were a game, usually with 'with'.
Please don't play with matches, because you could start a fire.
Stop playing with my feelings and tell me the truth.
UsageDon't play with your food. Play with fire means do something dangerous.
Similartoy, fiddle, trifle, mess, tamper
Note
14
converbcolloquialtransitive
To trick someone or use them to get what you want.
You played me!
Don't let them play you for a fool.
UsageSay he played me, or he played me for a fool.
Similardefraud
Note
15
in actionnounfigurativelyuncountable
In games, the state of a ball or piece that can still be used.
He knocked the green ball into play.
A captured piece is out of play.
Note
16
verbintransitive
To act or handle something in a certain way, as in 'play it safe' or 'play fair'.
Play fair, or don't play at all.
Let's play it safe and leave early for the airport.
UsageSay play fair or play dirty.
Similaract, behave, deal
Note

Less common meanings

17
pretendverbintransitive
To act as if you are something you are not.
He plays dumb, but he's clever.
Don't play innocent with me.
UsageSay play dumb or play hard to get.
Similaract, feign, fake
Note
18
verbintransitive
To bet money on the result of a game.
He played at the casino all night and lost a lot of money.
My uncle likes to play for money at the card table.
UsageSay play for money to make it clear.
Similargamble, bet, wager
Note
19
start buttonnouncountable
The button that makes recorded sound or video start playing.
Press play and listen.
The play button is the triangle.
UsageSay press play.
Oppositepause, stop
Note
20
business movenouncountable
A move made by a company or politician to get something.
The company made a play for the bicycle market.
Her speech was a play for the youth vote.
UsageMake a play for something means try to get it.
Similarmove, bid, gambit, maneuver, bet
Note
21
go downverbintransitive
To get a certain reaction from people.
The new parking rule plays badly with small business owners.
How will the speech play in the swing states?
UsageSay an idea plays well or plays badly with people.
Similargo (entry), land, fly
Note
22
noununcountable
Room to move freely, such as the looseness in a part of a machine.
There's too much play in the steering wheel, so get it checked.
The steering wheel has a lot of play, so the car is hard to control.
UsageGive full play to an idea means let it grow freely.
Similarslack, give, leeway, latitude, scope
Note
23
sexual activitynouncolloquialuncountable
Sex, especially when people act out a game or pretend roles.
Before any play, the couple agreed on a safe word.
Fantasy play is a private matter between adults.
Note
24
sound (instrument)verbtransitive or intransitive
Used about a musical instrument, to give out music.
This old violin still plays beautifully after a hundred years.
Old guitars play better once the nut is replaced.
Similarsound, sing, perform
Note
25
nouncountable
One time a video, song or other recording is watched, heard or played on the radio.
My little brother's dance video got more than a thousand plays.
Every play of the song earns the singer a tiny amount of money.
Similarview, listen
Note
26
nouncountable
A clever or funny use of a word, phrase, or name.
The name of the bakery is a play on words.
Her joke was a play on her teacher's last name.
UsageSay a play on words for a joke with words.
Similarpun, twist
27
verbtransitive
To use something in a careful, planned way to make money or get something you want.
My uncle likes to play the stock market with his savings.
She played the odds and bet on the team that almost always wins at home.
UsageSay play the market or play the system.
Similarexploit, work
Note
28
verbtransitive
To use or do something as your move or action, such as a card in a game, a shot, or a trick.
It's your turn, so play a card.
The kids played a joke on their dad by hiding his car keys.
UsagePlay your part means do your share; play a trick on someone means fool them.
Similardo, use
29
verbcolloquialintransitive
To joke or tease, or to not be serious about something.
Relax, I was only playing when I said you looked old.
"Don't play with me. I need my money back today."
UsageI'm just playing means I'm only joking.
Similarjoke, kid, fool
Note
30
verbtransitive or intransitive
To be in a certain position or job on a sports team.
Can you play goalie in today's game?
My brother played in defense all last season.
UsageSay play goalkeeper, with no the.
31
verbtransitive or intransitive
To move across or fall on something, or to aim something, like a light or a hose, across it.
Watch the colored lights play across the stage when the music starts.
The firefighters played their hoses on the burning roof.
Similarsweep, pass
Note
32
noununcountable
The way light or shadows move and change on something.
We sat on the dock and watched the play of light on the water.
The kids lay under the tree, watching the play of sunlight through the leaves.
UsageSay the play of light.
Similarinterplay, flicker
Note
33
verb
To be the score against another, as in "23 plays 8".
34
verb
To fight with swords or other weapons, for practice or for real.
35
verb
To act out a story on stage.
36
verb
To move lightly or quickly, as leaves do in the wind.
37
verb
To move back and forth again and again.
38
verb
To let a fish on a hook get tired before pulling it in.
39
verb
To have sex or fool around with someone.
40
noun
The fun activity of young animals that helps them learn.
41
noun
A move you make when it is your turn in a game.
42
noun
An area of rock where oil or gas may be found.
43
nounarchaic
Fighting, especially with swords or other weapons.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of play apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English plegian, meaning 'to play,' from an old Germanic word of uncertain origin. The noun comes from Old English plega, meaning 'play, movement, sport, or game.'

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

The verb comes from Old English plegian, meaning 'to play'. en.wiktionary.org
Old English plegian descends from an earlier Germanic word. en.wiktionary.org
The ultimate Germanic origin is uncertain. en.wiktionary.org
The noun descends through Middle English pleye from Old English plega. en.wiktionary.org
Old English plega meant play, movement, sport or game. gutenberg.org