Definition

1. Noun:

   • Activity for enjoyment or recreation: An activity engaged in for amusement, often involving children or leisure.
   • A dramatic work for the stage: A piece of writing intended to be performed by actors in a theater.
   • Participation in a game or sport: The action or manner of engaging in a game with rules.
   • Freedom of movement: The space or scope for free movement or operation.
   • The operation or influence of something: The way in which something, like light or imagination, manifests or operates.
   • A strategic move or action: A planned action in a game or situation.

2. Verb:

   • Engage in activity for enjoyment: To take part in a recreational or amusing activity.
   • Perform on a musical instrument: To produce music from an instrument.
   • Take part in a game or sport: To compete or participate in a game.
   • Portray a role: To act the part of a character in a performance.
   • Cause something to operate or emit: To cause something to function or to emit sound/light.
   • Behave in a particular way: To act or conduct oneself in a specified manner.
   • Treat something lightly: To handle or consider something without seriousness.
   • Gamble: To bet money on an outcome.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The children were engaged in imaginative play.
  • We went to see a play by Shakespeare.
  • Rain stopped play in the cricket match.
  • There is too much play in the steering wheel.

• Verb:

  • The kids play in the park every evening.
  • She can play the piano beautifully.
  • Our team will play against the champions next week.
  • He played the villain in the movie.
  • Please play the next track.

Advanced Usage

• "bring/call into play": To cause something to become active or effective.

  • The new evidence brought all his skills into play.

• "give free/full play to": To allow something complete freedom or expression.

  • The artist was given free play to her imagination.

• "in play":

  • (In games) Still active or valid.

    • The ball is still in play.
  • (In finance) Available for acquisition or subject to activity.

    • The company is now in play as a takeover target.

• "make a play for": To attempt to obtain or attract.

  • He made a play for the leadership position.

Variants and Related Words

• Player (n): A person who plays a game or sport, or a participant in an activity.
• Playful (adj): Fond of games and amusement; light-hearted.
• Playable (adj): (Of a field, instrument, or media file) in a condition to be used for play.
• Playacting (n): The action of acting in a play or pretending.
• Playback (n): The act of reproducing recorded sound or video.

Synonyms

• Noun: Game, recreation, drama, performance, maneuver, latitude.
• Verb: Engage, perform, compete, act, operate, fiddle, gamble.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Play along: To cooperate or pretend to agree, often temporarily.

  • He decided to play along with their plan for now.

• Play at:

  • To pretend to be or do something.

    • The children were playing at being astronauts.
  • To engage in an activity without seriousness.

    • He's just playing at being a businessman.

• Play back: To replay recorded sound or images.

  • Can you play back the last message?

• Play down: To minimize the importance of something.

  • The minister played down the crisis.

• Play off against: To set two parties against each other for one's own advantage.

  • He tried to play his rivals off against each other.

• Play on: To exploit or take advantage of (feelings, fears, etc.).

  • The advertisement plays on people's desire for security.

• Play out:

  • To unfold or happen.

    • Let's see how the situation plays out.
  • To perform or enact.

    • The tragedy was played out on the national stage.

• Play up:

  • To emphasize or highlight.

    • The report plays up the economic benefits.
  • (British) To cause problems or not work properly.

    • My knee has been playing up again.

Related Idioms

• Play it by ear: To act according to the circumstances without a fixed plan.

  • We don't have a schedule; let's just play it by ear.

• Play for time: To delay something in order to gain more time.

  • His lengthy questions were just a way to play for time.

• Play hard to get: To pretend a lack of interest to increase desire.

  • She's playing hard to get, but I know she likes him.

• Play into someone's hands: To act in a way that gives an advantage to an opponent.

  • By arguing so emotionally, you're playing right into their hands.

• Play it safe: To avoid taking risks.

  • I think I'll play it safe and invest in government bonds.

• Play second fiddle: To have a less important role than someone else.

  • He tired of playing second fiddle to his more famous brother.

• Play with fire: To take foolish risks.

  • Not declaring your income is playing with fire.

Noun

1. the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
2. the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
   • his gambling cost him a fortune
   • there was heavy play at the blackjack table
3. (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
   • it is my turn
   • it is still my play
4. gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement
   • it was all done in play
   • their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly
5. movement or space for movement
   • there was too much play in the steering wheel
6. verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously)
   • he became a figure of fun
   • he said it in sport
7. a weak and tremulous light
   • the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers
   • the play of light on the water
8. the removal of constraints
   • he gave free rein to his impulses
   • they gave full play to the artist's talent
9. (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds
   • rain stopped play in the 4th inning
10. activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules
    • Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child
11. an attempt to get something
    • they made a futile play for power
    • he made a bid to gain attention
12. utilization or exercise
    • the play of the imagination
13. a state in which action is feasible
    • the ball was still in play
    • insiders said the company's stock was in play
14. a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill
    • he made a great maneuver
    • the runner was out on a play by the shortstop
15. a preset plan of action in team sports
    • the coach drew up the plays for her team
16. a theatrical performance of a drama
    • the play lasted two hours
17. a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
    • he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway

Verb

1. exhaust by allowing to pull on the line
   • play a hooked fish
2. contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle
   • Princeton plays Yale this weekend
   • Charlie likes to play Mary
3. employ in a game or in a specific position
   • They played him on first base
4. use or move
   • I had to play my queen
5. shoot or hit in a particular manner
   • She played a good backhand last night
6. stake on the outcome of an issue
   • I bet $100 on that new horse
   • She played all her money on the dark horse
7. make bets
   • Play the races
   • play the casinos in Trouville
8. discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream
   • play water from a hose
   • The fountains played all day
9. cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
   • I cannot work a miracle
   • wreak havoc
   • bring comments
   • play a joke
   • The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
10. be performed or presented for public viewing
    • What's playing in the local movie theater?
    • `Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years
11. perform on a stage or theater
    • She acts in this play
    • He acted in `Julius Caesar'
    • I played in `A Christmas Carol'
12. cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space
    • The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack
13. behave carelessly or indifferently
    • Play about with a young girl's affection
14. be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way
    • This speech didn't play well with the American public
    • His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee
15. consider not very seriously
    • He is trifling with her
    • She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania
16. use to one's advantage
    • She plays on her clients' emotions
17. manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination
    • She played nervously with her wedding ring
    • Don't fiddle with the screws
    • He played with the idea of running for the Senate
18. cause to emit recorded audio or video
    • They ran the tapes over and over again
    • I'll play you my favorite record
    • He never tires of playing that video
19. behave in a certain way
    • play safe
    • play it safe
    • play fair
20. engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously
    • They played games on their opponents
    • play the stock market
    • play with her feelings
    • toy with an idea
21. put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game
    • He is playing his cards close to his chest
    • The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory
22. perform on a certain location
    • The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16
    • She has been playing on Broadway for years
23. emit recorded sound
    • The tape was playing for hours
    • the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered
24. pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity
    • Let's play like I am mommy
    • Play cowboy and Indians
25. engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion
    • On weekends I play
    • The students all recreate alike
26. bet or wager (money)
    • He played $20 on the new horse
    • She plays the races
27. move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly
    • The spotlights played on the politicians
28. pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
    • He acted the idiot
    • She plays deaf when the news are bad
29. perform music on (a musical instrument)
    • He plays the flute
    • Can you play on this old recorder?
30. replay (as a melody)
    • Play it again, Sam
    • She played the third movement very beautifully
31. be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children
    • The kids were playing outside all day
    • I used to play with trucks as a little girl
32. play a role or part
    • Gielgud played Hamlet
    • She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role
    • She played the servant to her husband's master
33. play on an instrument
    • The band played all night long
34. act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome
    • This factor played only a minor part in his decision
    • This development played into her hands
    • I played no role in your dismissal
35. participate in games or sport
    • We played hockey all afternoon
    • play cards
    • Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches