Definition

1. Noun:

   • An activity or sport with rules, often done for fun or competition: "game" refers to a structured form of play, often involving skill, chance, or strategy, where people compete or follow specific rules.
   • A single contest forming part of a larger match or series: In sports like tennis, a "game" is a unit of play within a set.
   • Wild animals hunted for sport or food: "Game" can mean wild animals that are hunted.
   • A secret or clever plan, often deceptive: "Game" can refer to a scheme or trick.
   • A person's occupation or field of activity (informal): Used informally to refer to someone's line of work or business.
   • Frivolous or playful behavior: Behavior that is not serious.

2. Adjective:

   • Willing and ready to try something difficult or new: Describes a person who is eager and courageous.
   • Lame or injured (archaic): An old-fashioned use meaning crippled, especially in the leg.

3. Verb:

   • To gamble: To play games of chance for money.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Let's play a board game. (We should play a structured activity like Monopoly.)
  • He won the first game of the tennis match. (He won the first unit of play in the set.)
  • Lions and elephants are considered big game. (These are large wild animals hunted for sport.)
  • I saw through his little game from the start. (I understood his deceptive plan immediately.)
  • He's been in the construction game for years. (He has worked in the construction industry for a long time.)
  • For him, life is all fun and games. (He treats life as a continuous, frivolous activity.)

• Adjective:

  • She's game for any adventure. (She is willing and eager to try any adventurous activity.)
  • The old soldier had a game leg. (The old soldier had a lame or injured leg.)

• Verb:

  • He would often game away his earnings. (He would frequently gamble and lose his money.)

Advanced Usage

• "The game is up": The secret plan or deception has been discovered and is over.
  • When the police arrived, the thieves knew the game was up.
• "Ahead of the game": In a position of advantage; ahead of schedule.
  • By finishing early, we stayed ahead of the game.
• "Fair game": A legitimate target for criticism, attack, or pursuit.
  • Politicians are often considered fair game for comedians.

Variants and Related Words

• Gamy/Gamey (adj): Having the strong flavor or smell of game meat.
  • The stew had a gamy taste.
• Gamer (n): A person who plays video games.
  • He is a dedicated gamer.

Synonyms

• Noun: Match, contest, sport, pastime, scheme, quarry (for hunted animals).
• Adjective: Brave, courageous, willing, plucky.
• Verb: Gamble, bet, wager.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Game the system: To manipulate or exploit the rules of a system to gain an unfair advantage.
  • Some companies try to game the system to avoid taxes.

Related Idioms

• Play the game: To behave according to the accepted rules or customs.
  • If you want to succeed in this company, you have to play the game.
• The name of the game: The most important aspect or objective.
  • In sales, customer satisfaction is the name of the game.
• Beat someone at their own game: To defeat someone by using their own methods against them.
  • The small company beat the giant at its own game with clever marketing.

Adjective

1. willing to face danger
2. disabled in the feet or legs
   • a crippled soldier
   • a game leg

Noun

1. frivolous or trifling behavior
   • for actors, memorizing lines is no game
   • for him, life is all fun and games
2. your occupation or line of work
   • he's in the plumbing game
   • she's in show biz
3. the game equipment needed in order to play a particular game
   • the child received several games for his birthday
4. a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
   • they concocted a plot to discredit the governor
   • I saw through his little game from the start
5. the flesh of wild animals that is used for food
6. (games) the score at a particular point or the score needed to win
   • the game is 6 all
   • he is serving for the game
7. (tennis) a division of play during which one player serves
8. animal hunted for food or sport
9. an amusement or pastime
   • they played word games
   • he thought of his painting as a game that filled his empty time
   • his life was all fun and games
10. a single play of a sport or other contest
    • the game lasted two hours
11. a contest with rules to determine a winner
    • you need four people to play this game

Verb

1. place a bet on
   • Which horse are you backing?
   • I'm betting on the new horse