to play
- verb
- /pleɪ/
- Fifty to seventy students play basketball on a crowded court adjacent to the school.
- play a game
- play an opponent
- play a sport
Someone said Airbud didn't play basketball, he played football.
- Someone said Airbud didn't play basketball, he played football.
- Poor old David Beckham learn he's played his last game for England.
- Do any of you play this online game?
- And, you know, playing against her was just brutal.
- You know, and and I think again, you're playing against Macedonia, right?
- Not that lazy guy that's on the couch playing video games all day long.
- That was me playing against Chinese national team.
- Like I'm, I'm playing very, very well at the moment.
- If Reid could beat you in this video game, you have to play Fortnite now.
Examples
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If students go home and continue to play, they are building physical stamina and mental acuity.
Academic text (2008) -
Who's playing Saturday?
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Do any of you play this online game?
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Are you playing a game?
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Now, we're gonna play the game.
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Let's play a little game.
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We are now going to play a game of sardines.
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Does anyone want to play Buck-Buck?
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There is no question that student-athletes want to play immediately upon arrival on campus.
Academic text (2012) -
The two teams will play against each other in the championship tomorrow.
Synonyms
Try to win against others who want the same thing
To play against an opponent in a game or contest
To take part in a contest or activity by following the rules
Compete against someone, for example in a sport or game
To try to win something by competing with other people or groups
To meet an opponent in a game or match
To take part in a contest where knights fight on horses
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 Playful
Surface Forms
Etymology
Play comes from the old English verb plegian, meaning 'to take part or compete', so when a team 'plays' another they take part in a match against them.