Skip to main content
play

play

685 1.2
A player's turn or move in a game
  • noun
  • /pleɪ/
translation icon : jugada
  • During the football match, the coach called for a clever play that surprised the opposing team.
  • fair play
  • team play
  • come into play

They got touchdowns, big plays, little plays, everything and big wins.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Get a deeper knowledge of every play and learn why you throw each pitch.

  • Kansas scores on the eight-play drive, capped with Rogers's 32-yard run.

  • Big time players make big time plays and big time situations.

  • So let's imagine that he calls that play and the pass is caught.

  • Understand that baseball is a sport where play stops after every pitch.

  • Every 4 serves, stop play and ask the questions until you get 3 responses.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Somebody makes a nice play, they look at Frank to see how he reacts.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Instead of using a playbook, these athletes need to talk through a play or sequence of skills.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Thus, continued participation and selection for higher-level play appear to explain the existence of the age effect.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Here’s a bouncer to third, easy play for Dorn.

Synonyms

to go
vsplay
1.0

To have a turn in a game or activity

is broader, covering actions, time spans, and planned actions
turn
vsplay
758 1.0

A chance in a sequence to act or speak

also covers actions and time segments beyond single opportunities
round
vsplay
376 3.1

A set of visits to check people or places

is wider, including single acts, opportunities, and planned actions
maneuver
vsplay
  • US
108 6.3

A clever move to gain an advantage in a game or fight

is wider, also referring to ordinary actions and time periods
to move
vsplay
79 1.0

Take one's turn in a game

is broader, also including time intervals and strategic actions
run of play
vsplay
  • Jargon
1 6.1

The normal action during a game not counting set pieces like free kicks or penalties

is broader, applying to single actions, turns, and strategic acts
3.6

A set time in a game or match when the action continues

also means single actions, opportunities, and planned acts
3.7

A part of a game when play happens for a set time

is broader, covering both moments of action and strategic acts

Antonyms

12 3.5

A period of time with no movement or action

9 6.3

Accepting things without trying to change them

Idioms

To take part in a contest or activity by following the rules

to play God
  • Informal
34 8.5

To act as if you have the right to decide other people's lives

31 4.7

Being a factor that affects a situation

22 5.8

To take a big risk that can cause harm

Decide what to do as things happen rather than plan ahead

10 7.8

To bring up race or accuse someone of racism to get support

to play chicken
  • Informal
9 8.8

Act dangerously to see who gives up first

Treat someone as stupid to trick or cheat them

to play the fool
  • Informal
7 4.6

Act in a silly way to make others laugh or avoid being serious

6 8.0

Act in a careless way by ignoring rules and other people's feelings

To have an important effect on how something happens

to play possum
  • Informal
5 8.4

Pretend to be dead or asleep to avoid danger

5 3.2

To work well with other people in a team

3 3.3

Not part of the game, for example when the ball or a player leaves the playing area

1 9.1

To reach and please ordinary people in small American towns

1 8.5

To pretend to be treated unfairly to get sympathy or avoid blame

1 7.3

To lead a group or activity as the most important person

1 9.9

Act in a foolish, annoying way instead of being serious

1 8.0

To mention someone's gender to gain an advantage in a discussion

Use clever or dishonest moves to get an advantage

To accept what you cannot change and make the best of it

To put a lot of effort into work and enjoy free time actively

A score by a team while the other team controls the game

To show all your plans and what you can do

9.0

To trick someone easily so you can get what you want

To get involved in other people's arguments or problems

Tell someone angrily to do something dangerous to stop them complaining

Use a chance as much as possible to get the most from it

Taking silly risks leads to bad results

Act in a clever, tricky way to fool others

To focus on the issue, not on the person

Act in a silly way like a clown to make people laugh

to play the whiner
  • Offensive
8.7

Act like a person who complains a lot to get sympathy

9.9

To claim someone was raped to get sympathy or advantage

Pretend to be ill to avoid going to work or school

To think clearly and act normally

A lifestyle of very hard work followed by active free time

Compounds

46 5.3

An illegal, violent, or dishonest action that suggests a crime

16 3.0

Honest behavior that treats everyone the same and follows the rules in sport or competition

double play
  • Jargon
14 3.0

A baseball play that gets two players out in one move

14 3.3

An activity where people pretend to be someone else to practice real situations

power play
  • Jargon
8 4.3

A time in hockey when one team has more players because of penalties

child's play
  • Informal
6 1.0

An activity that is very easy to do

power play
  • Literature
4 6.3

A forceful action to gain control over other people

4 4.4

A play in American football where a player runs forward with the ball

3 3.9

A short play with only one act

morality play
  • Literature
3 9.9

A play where characters are good or bad qualities to teach right and wrong

2 2.0

A small informal group where young children meet to play and learn

plug and play
  • Specialized
2 4.2

Works as soon as you connect or install it without needing any setup

1 5.6

A golf contest where each hole is a separate game and the player who wins more holes wins the contest

passing play
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A play in American football where a player throws the ball forward to a teammate

1 8.4

A play that shows the last days of Jesus, especially his suffering and death

triple play
  • Jargon
1 6.1

A baseball or softball play when the defending team gets three players out in one action

draw play
  • Jargon
1 6.2

A football play where the quarterback fakes a pass then hands the ball to a running back

run of play
  • Jargon
1 6.1

The normal action during a game not counting set pieces like free kicks or penalties

play therapy
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A way for children to show feelings and solve problems using play

1 7.4

A show that uses hand or puppet shadows on a screen to tell a story

1 3.0

Things children do for fun without strict rules

1 2.9

A planned move in American football by the team with the ball to move it or score

miracle play
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A play from the Middle Ages showing events from a saint's life

mystery play
  • Literature
1 9.9

A play from the Middle Ages that tells Bible stories, often about Jesus, performed for people

1 3.4

A show using puppets to tell a story

1 4.5

A group performance where actors read a play aloud without full sets or learning lines

power play
  • Jargon
1 4.6

A team plan that puts several players in one area to try to score

squeeze play
  • Jargon
1 7.5

A baseball play where a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts

1 7.4

A way of putting pressure on someone to make them agree

1 4.3

A pause in a game because of bad weather or other events

stroke play
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A way to score golf where the lowest total shots wins

word play
  • Informal
1 4.1

A clever or funny use of words to make jokes

An action by players during a baseball game to help the team win

A planned action a basketball team uses during a game to score or defend

A story that actors perform on stage

force play
  • Specialized
7.3

A play where a runner must advance and a fielder with the ball touches the base first

four-act play
  • Archaic
6.3

A play divided into four parts that each show part of the story

long-play
  • Specialized
6.0

A record that plays at a slower speed and lasts longer than older records

long-play
  • Jargon
6.8

A full recording of someone playing a video game from start to finish

medal play
  • Jargon
6.2

A way to score golf where the player with the fewest total shots wins

hold-up play
  • Jargon
5.9

A way a player keeps the ball to let teammates move forward

8.4

A baseball play where a runner on third base waits for a bunt then runs home to avoid being out

A set time in a game or match when the action continues

play-actor
  • Archaic
7.2

An actor who travels to different towns to act in plays

play-box
  • Archaic
8.4

A box a child uses to keep toys and personal things

2.7

A soft colorful material children shape with their hands to make objects

satyr play
  • Literature
9.9

A short ancient Greek play mixing serious drama with rude comedy and actors dressed as half-man, half-goat creatures

A risky baseball play where the runner on third base runs home while the batter bunts

trap play
  • Jargon
7.3

A play that lets a defender pass the start line then blocks them to open a gap for the runner

9.9

A stage play that shows rich people's dramatic, emotional lives

How Important

the name of the game
  • Informal
11 6.0
play
685 1.2
move
362 1.3

Surface Forms

play singular
plays plural

Etymology

Play comes from the old English plega, which meant 'action' or 'move', so a 'play' in a game is just one action or move made by a player.