to play
- verb
- /pleɪ/
- Fraud did not play a role in the outcome of the election.
- play a role
- play an important role
- play a significant role
But let's assume that genetics played some role, created some bias.
- But let's assume that genetics played some role, created some bias.
- It plays on our envy, it plays on our tribal spirits.
- When we are in our mother's womb, our heart plays a much different role for us.
- But then context also plays a large role.
- And maybe not surprisingly, nutrition plays a key role.
- And this is always worse if the confusion plays on your core wounds.
- I'm I'm just wondering how that plays in Harris Wall's campaign headquarters.
- Yeah, that played a big part in it, right?
- Consciousness plays no part in its free realization.
- I am something is going to play in there at the reward level.
- So that will play into search results to come up.
- So I can play a major factor on your life as well?
Examples
-
The parent acknowledged that data should play a role in where her son received mathematics instruction.
Academic text (2015) -
Nonetheless, school location appeared to play a role in students' perceptions of community safety.
Academic text (2015) -
I know you got to work to live... but if you play it right, you can work a lot less and live a lot more.
-
But exactly how these various factors play out in the real political world is unclear.
Academic text (2017) -
And that's the game we all get to play with ourselves starting today.
-
As water supplies become constrained, science can play an important role in managing water conflicts.
Academic text (2011) -
Part V.C examines the role that private practitioners can play to further ensure access to justice.
Academic text (2017) -
As we discuss below, descriptive norms can play an important role in governing people's behaviors.
Academic text (2013) -
Mentors, mentees, and the educational specialist play vital roles in developing a mentoring program.
Academic text (2013) -
His actions can greatly play a part in the community's progress.
Synonyms
To cause something to happen or be in a certain state
Cause something to happen
To cause something to happen or create a change
To make something happen
Cause a process, event, or feeling to start
Get something you want by working to reach it
Help to cause something to happen
Cause a reaction or feeling
To cause something to happen
To cause something bad to start
To take action that causes events or results
To cause something to happen or exist
Cause a feeling or reaction to appear in people
To make something happen, for example a plan or change
To make someone act because of a feeling or reason
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
Phrasal Verbs
- Informal
Date several different people without wanting a serious relationship
To trick someone who trusts you by hiding your real plans to get something for yourself
To act as if you are attracted to the opposite sex to hide your true sexual feelings
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 Strongly
Surface Forms
Etymology
Play comes from the old English plega, meaning 'part in an action', and when something 'plays' a part in an outcome it means it helps cause that result or has a role in it.