play

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Datamuse reports no synonyms or antonyms for this word.

Verb

1. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To [[act]] in a [[manner]] such that one has [[fun]]; to [[engage]] in [[activity|activities]] [[expressly]] for the [[purpose]] of [[recreation]] or [[entertainment]].
2. {{lb|en|intransitive|especially with 'with'; see also [[play with]]}} To [[toy]] or [[trifle]]; to [[act]] with [[levity]] or [[thoughtlessness]]; to be [[careless]].
3. {{lb|en|transitive|intransitive}} To [[perform]] in (a [[sport]]); to [[participate]] in (a [[game]]).
4. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To contend or fight using weapons, both as practice or in real life-or-death [[combat]]s; to engage in martial games; to [[joust]]; to [[fence#Verb|fence]]
5. {{lb|en|intransitive|copulative}} To [[act]] or [[behave]] in a stated way.
6. {{lb|en|transitive}} To [[act]] as (the [[indicated]] [[role]]).
7. {{lb|en|transitive|intransitive}} ''To [[produce]] [[sound]] (especially [[music]]), [[moving picture]]s{{,}} or [[theatrical]] [[performance]].''<!-- Bearing in mind the large number of combinations of types of subject and object for these senses, this section aims to keep the number of separate definitions manageable, rather than necessarily listing and defining every possibility completely rigorously. -->
8. {{lb|en|transitive|intransitive}} To [[move]] [[briskly]], [[sweepingly]], [[back and forth]], in a [[directed]] [[manner]], etc.
9. {{lb|en|transitive}} To [[bring]] into [[action]] or [[motion]]; to [[exhibit]] in action; to [[execute]] or [[deploy]].
10. {{lb|en|transitive}} To [[handle]] or [[deal with]] (a [[matter]] or [[situation]]) in a stated way.
11. {{lb|en|transitive}} To [[handle]] or [[deal with]] (something) in a [[calculating]] [[manner]] [[intend]]ed to [[achieve]] [[profit]] or [[gain]].
12. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To be [[receive]]d or [[accept]]ed (in a given way); to [[go down]].

Noun

1. {{lb|en|uncountable|formerly|_|countable}} Activity for [[amusement]] only, especially among the young.
2. {{lb|en|uncountable}} Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.
3. {{lb|en|uncountable}} The conduct, or course, of a game.
4. {{lb|en|uncountable|sports|video games|with certain prepositions|also figurative}} The sphere or circumstance in which a playing implement, such as a ball, is played or available to be played (''see also'' [[in play]], [[out of play]]).
5. {{lb|en|uncountable}} An individual's performance in a sport or game.
6. {{lb|en|countable}} A short sequence of action within a game.
7. {{senseid|en|literary composition for performance}} {{lb|en|countable}} A [[literary]] composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.
8. {{lb|en|countable}} A theatrical performance featuring [[actor]]s.
9. {{lb|en|countable}} An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party.
10. {{lb|en|countable}} A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
11. {{lb|en|uncountable}} Movement (of a pattern of light etc.)
12. {{lb|en|uncountable}} Freedom to move.

Proper noun

1. {{lb|en|stock symbol}} {{w|Dave & Buster's}}.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.