playful
/'pleiful/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Full of fun and high spirits; showing a lighthearted, cheerful desire to engage in play or amusement. This describes someone or something that is lively, fond of joking, and enjoys fun activities.
- Not intended seriously; humorous or jesting. This describes an action, remark, or manner that is light and teasing rather than serious or hostile.
Examples of Usage
- Describing a person or animal:
- The playful puppy chased its tail.
- Her playful nature makes her popular with children.
- Describing a mood, action, or tone:
- He gave her a playful nudge.
- The article was written in a playful style.
Advanced Usage
- "in a playful mood": feeling cheerful and inclined to joke or play.
- After the exam, the students were all in a playful mood.
- Used to describe artistic or creative works that are clever, whimsical, or not overly serious.
- The artist's playful sculptures bring joy to the city square.
Variants and Related Words
- Playfully (adverb): In a playful manner.
- She smiled playfully.
- Playfulness (noun): The quality or state of being playful.
- The playfulness of the design is its main appeal.
Synonyms
- Frisky: Lively and playful, often used for animals.
- Frolicsome: Full of merry play.
- Jocular: Fond of or characterized by joking.
- Mischievous: Showing a fondness for playful misbehavior.
Antonyms
- Serious: Solemn or thoughtful in character.
- Sober: Serious, sensible, and solemn.
- Sedate: Calm, dignified, and unhurried.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- A playful dig: A gentle, good-natured tease or critical remark.
- His comment was just a playful dig, not an insult.
- Playful banter: Light-hearted and friendly teasing or conversation.
- They engaged in some playful banter before the meeting started.
Adjective
- full of fun and high spirits
- playful children just let loose from school