verb
plays; played; playing
to do activities for fun or enjoyment [no obj]
If children play teacher/school (etc.), they play by pretending to be adults.
to participate in (a game or sport) [+ obj]
If you play for a particular team, you are a member of that team.
to compete against (someone) in a game [+ obj]
If you play (someone) for (something), you play a game in which the winner will be able to take or keep something.
[+ obj] :to have (a particular position on a sports team)
[+ obj] :to allow (someone) to play during a game especially in a particular position
[+ obj] :to place (a playing card) on the table during your turn in a card game
[+ obj] :to move (a piece) during your turn in a chess game
[+ obj] :to hit, kick, throw, or catch (a ball, puck, etc.)
[+ obj] to bet money on (something)
to invest money in (the stock market) in order to try to earn money
to perform music on (an instrument) [+ obj]
[no obj] of an instrument :to produce music
[+ obj] :to perform (a song, a piece of music, etc.) on an instrument
[+ obj] :to perform music written by (a particular composer)
to perform music in (a particular place) [+ obj]
to cause (a song, a piece of music, a movie, etc.) to be heard or seen [+ obj]
[no obj] :to be shown or performed usually more than one time
[+ obj] :to act the part of (a particular character) in a film, play, etc.
[no obj] :to pretend that you have a particular quality or are in a particular condition
to act or behave in a particular way [no obj]
[no obj] :to do or say things in a joking way
[+ obj] :to do (something) to someone in order to amuse yourself or others
usually + on
[+ obj] informal :to use or control (someone or something) in a clever and unfair way
[+ obj] :to base a decision or action on (something)
[no obj] US :to be accepted or received in a particular way
[no obj] :to move in a lively and irregular way
play along
[phrasal verb]
to agree to do or accept what other people want
play around
also Brit play about [phrasal verb]
to have sex with someone who is not your husband, wife, or regular partner
to deal with or treat something in a careless way
to use or do something in a way that is not very serious
play around with (something) :to move or change (something) or to think about (something) in different ways often in order to find out what would work best
play at
[phrasal verb]
play at (something)
to do (something) in a way that is not serious
chiefly Brit :to play by pretending to be (someone or something)
Brit - used to say in an annoyed way that you do not know the reason for someone's behavior
play back
[phrasal verb]
play back (something) or play (something) back :to cause (recorded sounds or pictures) to be heard or seen
play ball
play down
[phrasal verb]
play down (something) or play (something) down :to make (something) seem smaller or less important
play fast and loose
to behave in a clever and dishonest way - usually + with
play for laughs
or play (something) for laughs
to act in a funny way that makes people laugh
play for time
to try to make something happen later instead of sooner :to try to delay something
play games
play God
usually disapproving :to make decisions that have a very powerful and important effect on other people's lives
play hard to get
to pretend that you are not interested in having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone in order to make that person more attracted to you
play into
[phrasal verb]
play into (something) :to help support (something, such as an idea)
play into someone's hands
or play into the hands of someone
to do something that you do not realize will hurt you and help someone else
play off
[phrasal verb]
chiefly Brit :to participate in a game that decides a winner from people or teams that had the same results in an earlier game :to play in a play-off
play off (someone or something) US :to react to (someone or something) in a pleasing way :to combine with (someone or something) in a way that makes each part better
play (someone or something) off against (someone or something) :to cause two people or groups to fight or compete with each other in a way that helps you
play on
also play upon [phrasal verb]
play on/upon (something) :to make people do what you want by using (their emotions, fears, concerns, etc.) in an unfair way
play out
[phrasal verb]
to happen or occur in usually a gradual way
b play out (something) or play (something) out :to make (something) happen
play out (something) or play (something) out :to finish (something)
play the field
to have romantic or sexual relationships with more than one person at a time :to date more than one person
play the fool
play to
[phrasal verb]
play to (someone or something) :to behave or perform in a particular way for (someone or something) in order to get approval or attention
play to (something) :to make use of (something)
play to the gallery
play up
[phrasal verb]
play up (something) or play (something) up
to talk about or treat (something) in a way that gives it special importance :to emphasize or stress (something)
to make (something) seem bigger or more important
play up or play (someone) up Brit :to cause problems or pain
play with
[phrasal verb]
play with (something)
to move or handle (something) with your hands or fingers often without thinking
to handle, change, or deal with (something) in a careless way
to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously
play with fire
to do something that is risky or dangerous
play with words/language
to use words that sound similar or that have several different meanings especially in a clever or funny way
play with yourself
to touch your own sex organs for sexual pleasure :masturbate
noun
plural plays
[count] :a piece of writing that tells a story through the actions and words of characters and that is performed on a stage
[noncount] :activities that are done especially by children for fun or enjoyment
[noncount] :the action that happens during a game
the time when a person playing a game is supposed to do something [count]
[count] US :a particular action or set of actions that happens during a game: such as
a American football :a planned attempt to move the ball forward or to stop an opponent from moving the ball forward
b baseball :an action that is done to try to get a player out
the act of moving a piece in a game like chess or checkers
[noncount] :the state of being active or having an effect
[noncount] time when a musical recording is played by a radio station :airplay
b US :attention in newspapers, on television, etc.
[count] :a humorous or clever way of using a word or phrase so that more than one meaning is suggested - + on
[noncount] a function of a machine that causes recorded sounds or pictures to be heard or seen
time when a machine is being used to hear or see recorded sounds or pictures
[singular] :the irregular or lively movement of something
[noncount] :loose and free movement of something (such as part of a machine)
in/into play
of a ball :in or into the area where players must stay in sports
make a play for
to try to get (someone or something)
out of play
of a ball :outside the area where players must stay in sports