play

About 115.22 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb 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.

2. verb To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless.

   Don't play with your food!

3. verb To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).

   He plays on three teams.

4. verb Specifying a particular sporting role or position.

   He plays left back for Mudchester Rovers

5. verb To compete against, in a game.

   We're playing one of the top teams in the next round.

6. verb To be the opposing score to.

   Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!

7. verb 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
8. verb To act or behave in a stated way.

   to play safe, to play fair, to play dirty

Similar words

frolic fun gambol caper romp toy make-believe pretend dally encounter

Often followed by

a the in with an of and is on

Word family

playabilities playability playable played playing plays