play
/pleɪ̯/ [pɫ̥eɪ̯ ~ pʰɫeɪ̯] verb A1- To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment. · The children played in the park.
- To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless. · Don't play with your food!· He's just playing with her affections.
- To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game). · He plays on three teams.· Who's playing now?
- Specifying a particular sporting role or position. · He plays left back for Mudchester Rovers
- To compete against, in a game. · We're playing one of the top teams in the next round.
- To be the opposing score to. · Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!
- 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
- To act or behave in a stated way. · to play safe, to play fair, to play dirty
He/she/it plays · Past played · Past participle played · -ing form playing
Verb forms
- Base form
- play
- He/she/it
- plays
- Past
- played
- Past participle
- played
- -ing form
- playing
Phrasal verbs and expressions
- play about Synonym of play around.
- play along To take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.
- play around To behave in a silly, childish, or irresponsible way.
- play away To be sexually unfaithful out of one's home
- play back To replay a recording.
- play down To make or attempt to make something seem less important,...
- play in Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, in.
- play into To support (an idea or plan).
- play off To portray (something) (as unimportant); to dismiss or ma...
- play on To exploit (a potential weakness or vulnerability) by exa...
- play out To play (a game etc.) to its conclusion.
- play through To overtake a slower group of players ahead of one's own ...
From the library
A HOUND having started a Hare on the hillside pursued her for some distance, at one time biting her with his teeth as if he would take her life, and at another fawning upon her, as if in play with another dog.
I am hardly nineteen; I know nothing; I have no part to play.
The Ass, again playing the fool, fell down on purpose when he reached the stream, but the sponges became swollen with water, greatly increasing his load.
SOME BOYS, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the water and began to pelt them with stones.
Other matches
- play Activity for amusement only, especially among t... A1
- play about Synonym of play around.
- play along To take part in a charade, deception, or practi...
- play around To behave in a silly, childish, or irresponsibl...
- play away To be sexually unfaithful out of one's home
- play back To replay a recording.
- play down To make or attempt to make something seem less ...
- play in Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: ...
Learn play in real texts
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