Search

play🔊

To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.

(especially with 'with'; see also play with) To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless.

To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).

{{n-g|Specifying a particular sporting role or position.}}

To compete against, in a game.

(in the scoring of games and sports) To be the opposing score to.

(copulative) To act or behave in a stated way.

To give a false appearance of being; to pretend to be.

To act as (the indicated role).

To portray (a character) in (a film or theatre).

''To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures{{,}} or theatrical performance.''

(person) To produce music using a musical instrument.

(of a musical instrument) To produce music.

(of a person) To operate (a device or media) so as to cause sound (especially music) or moving pictures to be produced.

(usually of a person) To render (a musical title, compositional style, film title, etc.) using a musical instrument or device.

(of a device, media, broadcast, etc.) To emit or relay sound (especially music) or moving pictures; (of a device) to operate media.

(music) To be performed, reproduced{{,}} or shown.

(etc.) To perform or give performances in or at (a venue or location).

To act or perform (a play).

To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.

To move in a light or brisk manner.

To move so as to fall upon or sweep across something, or to direct or operate (something) in such a manner.

To move in an alternating or reciprocal manner; to move to and fro.

To bring into action or motion; to exhibit in action; to execute or deploy.

To handle or deal with (a matter or situation) in a stated way.

To handle or deal with (something) in a calculating manner intended to achieve profit or gain.

To be received or accepted (in a given way); to go down.

To gamble.

To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.

(colloquial) To manipulate, deceive, or swindle.

📑 Synonyms: defraud

To kid; to joke; to say something for amusement; to act, or to treat something, unseriously.

To take part in amorous activity; to make love; ''see also play around''.

{{n-g|For additional senses in various idiomatic phrases, see the individual entries, such as play along, play at, play down, play off, play on, play out, play to, play up, etc.}}

Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.

Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.

The conduct, or course, of a game.

(also figurative) The sphere or circumstance in which a playing implement, such as a ball, is available to be played (''see also'' in play, out of play).

An individual's performance in a sport or game.

A short sequence of action within a game.

(turn-based games) An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.

(literary composition for performance) A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.

A theatrical performance featuring actors.

An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party.

A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.

Movement (of a pattern of light etc.)

Freedom to move.

The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely, as for example lash, backlash, or slack.

(informal) Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.

An instance of watching or listening to media.

An instance or instances of causing media to be watched or heard, such as by broadcasting.

A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.

(instance of wordplay) An instance of wordplay.

(now usually in compounds) Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.