Play
verbNoun
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
“he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway”
Similar:Dramaa weak and tremulous light
“the play of light on the water”
Similar:ShimmerType of:AlterationModificationChangegay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement
“it was all done in play”
activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules
“Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child”
Type of:DiversionRecreation(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
“it is still my play”
Similar:TurnType of:Activityan attempt to get something
“they made a futile play for power”
Similar:BidType of:EndeavourAttemptEfforta deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill
“the runner was out on a play by the shortstop”
movement or space for movement
“there was too much play in the steering wheel”
Similar:LoosenessType of:MovablenessMovabilitythe removal of constraints
“they gave full play to the artist's talent”
Type of:Freedomthe act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
“there was heavy play at the blackjack table”
(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds
“rain stopped play in the 4th inning”
Type of:AmountMeasureQuantitya state in which action is feasible
“the ball was still in play”
“insiders said the company's stock was in play”
Type of:ActivenessActionActivitya preset plan of action in team sports
“the coach drew up the plays for her team”
a theatrical performance of a drama
“the play lasted two hours”
Type of:Showutilization or exercise
“the play of the imagination”
Type of:UseEmploymentUtilizationthe act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
Similar:SwordplayType of:Actionverbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously)
Verb
manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination
“She played nervously with her wedding ring”
“He played with the idea of running for the Senate”
perform on a stage or theater
“She acts in this play”
“I played in `A Christmas Carol'”
Similar:ActPlayactRoleplayType of:Performengage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously
“They played games on their opponents”
“play the stock market”
“play with her feelings”
Similar:ToyType of:DoActBehaveplay a role or part
“Gielgud played Hamlet”
“She played the servant to her husband's master”
Type of:Re-createcontend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle
“Princeton plays Yale this weekend”
“Charlie likes to play Mary”
pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
“She plays deaf when the news are bad”
Similar:ActType of:ActBehaveDoconsider not very seriously
“She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania”
cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
“play a joke”
replay (as a melody)
“She played the third movement very beautifully”
Similar:SpielType of:Re-createstake on the outcome of an issue
“She played all her money on the dark horse”
cause to emit recorded audio or video
“I'll play you my favorite record”
“He never tires of playing that video”
Similar:Runparticipate in games or sport
“We played hockey all afternoon”
“play cards”
“Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches”
Type of:VieCompeteContendengage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion
“On weekends I play”
Similar:Recreateact or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome
“This factor played only a minor part in his decision”
“This development played into her hands”
“I played no role in your dismissal”
Type of:MoveActbe at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children
“The kids were playing outside all day”
“I used to play with trucks as a little girl”
Type of:Actbehave in a certain way
“play safe”
“play it safe”
“play fair”
Type of:MoveActbet or wager (money)
“He played $20 on the new horse”
“She plays the races”
Type of:Gambledischarge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream
“play water from a hose”
“The fountains played all day”
Type of:Dischargeemit recorded sound
“The tape was playing for hours”
“the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered”
Type of:Soundperform music on (a musical instrument)
“He plays the flute”
“Can you play on this old recorder?”
Type of:Soundperform on a certain location
“The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16”
“She has been playing on Broadway for years”
Type of:Performput (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game
“He is playing his cards close to his chest”
“The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory”
Type of:Deploybe performed or presented for public viewing
“What's playing in the local movie theater?”
“`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years”
cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space
“The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack”
Type of:MoveDisplaceemploy in a game or in a specific position
“They played him on first base”
Type of:ApplyUtilizeUtiliseexhaust by allowing to pull on the line
“play a hooked fish”
Type of:TuckerExhaustBeatmake bets
“play the casinos in Trouville”
move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly
“The spotlights played on the politicians”
Type of:GoTravelMoveplay on an instrument
“The band played all night long”
Type of:Performpretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity
“Let's play like I am mommy”
Type of:ShamSimulateFeignshoot or hit in a particular manner
“She played a good backhand last night”
Type of:Hituse or move
“I had to play my queen”
Type of:UtilizeEmployApplyuse to one's advantage
“She plays on her clients' emotions”
behave carelessly or indifferently
Dictionary Validity
- Tournament Word List (TWL)
- Scrabble US
- Collins Scrabble Words (CSW21)
- Scrabble UK
- ENABLE Dictionary
- Words With Friends
- Combined US/UK Scrabble Dictionary
- SOWPODS
- North American Scrabble (NWL2020)
- NASPA