play
- noun
- /pleɪ/
- All children increased and maintained their diversity of pretend play and related behaviors after intervention.
Surf challenge, salsa dancing, piano playing, improv classes.
- Surf challenge, salsa dancing, piano playing, improv classes.
Examples
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If boys engage in more physical activities during play, they will concentrate better during academic activities.
Academic text (2008) -
Children can be engaged in group functional play, group construction activities, or group dramatic play.
Academic text (2015) -
So, you know, it's not like it's all work and no play.
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What I heard then was the melody of children at play.
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Schools provide an ideal setting for play therapy, as all children have access to school counselors.
Academic text (2013) -
Another exciting half-hour of answers and questions... ... with these categories in our first round of play.
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In this study, the children generalized pretend play across behaviors, materials, adults, and settings.
Academic text (2015) -
All four children generalized pretend play to non-intervention contexts with different but similar toys.
Academic text (2015) -
Three of the four children maintained and generalized their play-related IEP goals to free-play settings.
Academic text (2015) -
The playground was filled with laughter as the children enjoyed their play on the swings.
Synonyms
An activity with rules that people play for fun or competition
Activities or experiences that make you happy
An action people do for a purpose or for fun
Things people do or watch for fun, like a film
An activity you do for fun or to relax
Taking part in a game or sport for fun
An enjoyable activity or entertainment that holds your attention
A time when children play and have fun
A playful time when people run and laugh
Lively, carefree play that often involves running and laughing
A playful activity done for fun
Things children do for fun without strict rules
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
Act in a careless way by ignoring rules and other people's feelings
Not part of the game, for example when the ball or a player leaves the playing area
- Offensive
To pretend to be treated unfairly to get sympathy or avoid blame
- Literature
To mention someone's gender to gain an advantage in a discussion
- Informal
To put a lot of effort into work and enjoy free time actively
- Slang
Tell someone angrily to do something dangerous to stop them complaining
Compounds
Honest behavior that treats everyone the same and follows the rules in sport or competition
- Literature
A play where characters are good or bad qualities to teach right and wrong
- Specialized
Works as soon as you connect or install it without needing any setup
A golf contest where each hole is a separate game and the player who wins more holes wins the contest
- Specialized
A play in American football where a player throws the ball forward to a teammate
- Jargon
A baseball or softball play when the defending team gets three players out in one action
- Jargon
A football play where the quarterback fakes a pass then hands the ball to a running back
- Jargon
The normal action during a game not counting set pieces like free kicks or penalties
A planned move in American football by the team with the ball to move it or score
- Literature
A play from the Middle Ages that tells Bible stories, often about Jesus, performed for people
A group performance where actors read a play aloud without full sets or learning lines
- Jargon
A baseball play where a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts
- Specialized
A play where a runner must advance and a fielder with the ball touches the base first
- Jargon
A baseball play where a runner on third base waits for a bunt then runs home to avoid being out
- Literature
A short ancient Greek play mixing serious drama with rude comedy and actors dressed as half-man, half-goat creatures
- Jargon
A risky baseball play where the runner on third base runs home while the batter bunts
- Jargon
A play that lets a defender pass the start line then blocks them to open a gap for the runner
How Playful
- Literature
- UK
- UK
Surface Forms
Etymology
Play comes from the old English word plega, meaning 'exercise' or 'fun', so to 'play' as an activity is simply to take part in something for enjoyment and learning.