Play
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Play is a verb meaning (intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
Meaning
(intransitive) To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
More Meanings
- (intransitive, especially with 'with'; see also play with) To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless.
- (transitive, intransitive) To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
- (intransitive, copulative) To act or behave in a stated way.
- (transitive) To act as (the indicated role).
- (transitive, intransitive) To produce sound (especially music), moving pictures, or theatrical performance.
- (transitive, intransitive) To move briskly, sweepingly, back and forth, in a directed manner, etc.
- (intransitive) To contend or fight using weapons, both as practice or in real life-or-death combats; to engage in martial games; to joust; to fence
Example Sentences
Who's playing now?
He plays on three teams.
Don't play with your food!
The children played in the park.
Word Forms
- plays
- playing
- played
Synonyms for play
Depending on context, synonyms include defraud, approach, cohabit, common, company, copulate.
Antonyms for play
Common opposites include tautness, tightness.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include frolic, fun, gambol, caper, romp, toy.
Related Dictionary Tools
Practice “play” in a Crossword
Recall this definition from a clue, use crossing letters, and review the word again when you solve it.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.