Definition Synonyms
Definition of playing - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
recreationengaged in a playful or light-hearted activity
- The playing children laughed and ran around the park.
2.
sportsparticipating in a game or sport
- The playing team showed great sportsmanship.
3.
activitycurrently active or in operation
- The playing radio filled the room with music.
Noun
1.
gamesthe act of engaging in a game or sport
- Playing in the park is fun.
2.
musicthe act of performing music on an instrument
- Her playing was beautiful at the concert.
3.
entertainmentoccasion when media is played
- The playing of the song was repeated.
4.
theaterthe portrayal of a role in a drama
- His playing of Hamlet was impressive.
Expressions with playing
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
engaging in activities for fun without seriousness
They are just playing games to relax after work.
area designated for sports or games
The children gathered at the playing field for soccer practice..
behaving like an actor in a role, not showing real feelings
He seems upset, but he is just playing a part.
situation where everyone has the same chance to succeed
We want a level playing field for all businesses.
fair competition without advantages
The referee ensured an even playing field during the match.
make conditions fair for everyone involved
The new policy will level the playing field for small businesses.
asking why someone is behaving strangely
What are you playing at, arriving so late?
space designated for playing games or sports
The children ran around the playing area.
one of a set of cards used in games
He shuffled the playing cards expertly..
activity of taking part in games for fun or competition
Game playing is popular among teenagers after school.
practicing scenarios to improve skills or understanding
Role-playing in class helped students learn conflict resolution.
duration for recreational activities
Children look forward to their playing period during school.
related to the activity of playing card games
He joined a card-playing club for enthusiasts.
playing music on a set of bells
The carillon playing echoed through the town square.
area of ground or floor where a sport or game is played
The wet playing surface made the soccer match difficult.
related to a vinyl record with extended playtime
He collects long-playing albums from the 1960s.
Origin of playing
Old English, plegian (to play)
Terms with playing included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
game
playing card with a single pip
music
group of musicians playing together
sports
marked area for playing sports
game
set of playing cards
playing cards
playing card showing the numeral 8
number
playing card showing a quartet of symbols used in card games
card suit
suit in playing cards marked with red heart symbols
games
playing card with six symbols
sports
landscaped ground for playing golf
audio equipment
equipment for playing recorded music loudly
sports
rectangular area with a net for playing tennis
game
inflated sphere used for playing a net-based team sport
game
playing card with nine pips
music
curved stick with horsehair for playing string instruments
gaming
device for playing video games
playing
play card games, board games, or video games
entertainment
playing video games for entertainment or competition
table gaming
playing card bearing the figure of a young man
music
large group of musicians playing various instruments
music
tool for playing stringed instruments
card games
playing card ranked between two and four in value
sports context
sports team playing on opponent's field
playing area
marked surface for badminton games
sports
items used for playing the sport of baseball
Examples of playing in a sentence
Playing dolphins leapt out of the water. The playing children laughed joyfully. The playing athletes were exhausted. The playing children laughed in the park. A playing television distracted him from work. Playing can improve children's social skills.
The playing of chess requires strategic thinking. The playing of the violin was mesmerizing. His playing captivated everyone at the recital. The playing of the movie was scheduled for 8 PM. During the playing of the video, the audience was silent. The playing of the character was praised by critics. Her playing in the school play was outstanding.
View all translations of playing
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:joueur, jeu, ...
- German:spielend, Spielen, ...
- Italian:giocoso, gioco, ...
- Spanish:jugando, participación, ...
- Portuguese:brincalhão, jogo, ...
- Chinese:玩耍的, 玩耍, ...
- Japanese:遊んでいる, 遊び, ...
- Arabic:لاعِب, لَعِب, ...
- Hebrew:מְשַׂחֵק, מִשְׂחַק, ...
- Russian:играющий, игра, ...
- Ukrainian:грайливий, грати, ...
- Hindi:खेलते हुए, खेल, ...
Definition of play - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
recreationintr. engage in activities for fun or recreationintr.
- Children love to play in the park.
2.
sportstr./intr. participate in a sport or gametr./intr.
- She plays soccer every weekend.
3.
musictr./intr. perform music using a musical instrumenttr./intr.
- He plays the guitar beautifully.
4.
mediatr. operate a device to produce sound or videotr.
- Please play the next song on the playlist.
5.
actingtr./intr. perform in a theatrical production or movietr./intr.
- She will play the lead role in the upcoming play..
6.
actiontr. move or manipulate something lightly or carelesslytr.
- She plays with her hair when nervous.
7.
gamblingtr./intr. gamble or bet moneytr./intr.
- He likes to play poker on weekends.
8.
strategytr. handle a situation in a specific waytr.
- She decided to play it safe.
Noun
1.
recreationactivity for fun, especially among children
- The children were lost in play all afternoon.
2.
theaterUK dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcastUK
- We attended a play at the local theater last night..
3.
sportsUS short sequence of action within a gameUS
- The coach called a new play.
4.
gamethe conduct or course of a game
- His play improved in the second half.
5.
wiggle roomfreedom or scope to act or operate
- The new policy gives more play to individual discretion..
6.
intimacysexual activity or role-playing
- Their therapist encouraged honest discussion about play and boundaries.
7.
mechanicsRare the extent a part of a mechanism can move freelyRare
- There's too much play in the steering wheel.
8.
lightRare movement of a pattern of lightRare
- The play of light on the water was beautiful.
Expressions with play
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
engage in recreational activities for fun or competition
They love to play games on weekends.
engaged in a game or activity
The children are at play in the garden.
activity by children driven by imagination
The backyard was filled with child's play.
engage in playful or aimless activity
The children love to play about in the garden.
to act a character in a performance
She played a role in the school's theater production..
subject someone to a playful hoax or joke
They decided to play a joke on their friend.
to act in a theatrical performance
She played a part in the school's drama production..
deceive someone as a joke
They played a trick on him by hiding his shoes.
participate in a playful or teasing way
She play along with the children's game to make them happy..
behave in a silly or childish way
They like to play around during meetings.
pretend to be someone else in a game
The children love to play at being superheroes.
pretend to be someone or something for fun
The kids play at being pirates in the backyard.
start or engage in a game of ball
The teams are ready to play ball at the whistle..
act like a detective for fun
The kids decided to play detective and search for clues in the backyard.
jump over others' backs in a playful game
The kids love to play leapfrog at recess.
fake money used in games
The board game includes play money for transactions.
participate in a game where players sit in chairs
The children love to play musical chairs at parties.
finish a game or activity completely
We decided to play out the match despite the rain.
to participate in a game or sport
She always plays the game with enthusiasm..
deceive or mislead someone
He likes to play tricks on his friends.
deceive someone for fun or mischief
They love to play tricks on their friends.
use words in a clever or funny way
The poet loves to play with words in his verses.
start to have an effect or influence
The new regulations will come into play next year.
honest and respectful behavior that treats everyone fairly
Fair play is important in every competition.
Origin of play
Old English, plegian (to play)
Examples of play in a sentence
We used to play board games during holidays. They play basketball at the local gym. He loves to play chess with his friends. She plays the piano at the concert. They play the violin in the orchestra. Can you play the video from the beginning?
She asked him to play her favorite movie. He will play Hamlet in the new production. They asked her to play a detective in the film. He played with the loose thread on his sleeve. The child played with the buttons on the radio. She decided to play the lottery every Friday. They often play blackjack at the casino. The lawyer played the negotiation aggressively. We should play this carefully until we know more. Play is essential for children's development. The school has a dedicated area for play. The play received rave reviews from critics. She starred in a play written by her friend. That play gained ten yards. The quarterback changed the play at the line. Careless play cost the team the match. The referee stopped play after the injury. The manager allowed some play in the budget. There's little play for error in this plan. Their relationship was full of adventurous play. The couple's private play was their little secret. The engineer adjusted the play in the gears. Excessive play in the joints can cause wear. The play of light shifted across the ceiling. Artists studied the play of light among the leaves.
View all translations of play
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:jouer, jeu, ...
- German:spielen, Spiel, ...
- Italian:giocare, gioco, ...
- Spanish:jugar, juego, ...
- Portuguese:brincar, brincadeira, ...
- Chinese:玩耍, 戏剧, ...
- Japanese:遊ぶ, 遊び, ...
- Arabic:لَعِبَ, لَعْب, ...
- Hebrew:לְשַׂחֵק, מִשְׂחָק, ...
- Russian:играть, игра, ...
- Ukrainian:гратися, гра, ...
- Hindi:खेलना, खेल, ...
icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.
icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.
icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the