Idioms for play
Origin of play
before 900; (noun) Middle English
pleye, Old English
plega; (v.) Middle English
pleyen, Old English
pleg(i)an (cognate with Middle Dutch
pleien to leap for joy, dance, rejoice, be glad)
SYNONYMS FOR play
2
show.
3
diversion,
pastime.
Play,
game,
sport refer to forms of diverting activity.
Play is the general word for any such form of activity, often undirected, spontaneous, or random:
Childhood should be a time for play.
Game refers to a recreational contest, mental or physical, usually governed by set rules:
a game of chess. Besides referring to an individual contest,
game may refer to a pastime as a whole:
Golf is a good game. If, however, the pastime is one (usually an outdoor one) depending chiefly on physical strength, though not necessarily a contest, the word
sport is applied:
Football is a vigorous sport.
18, 19 liberty.
23 enact.
25 personate, impersonate.
30 use.
32 bet.
33 back.
45 sport, frolic, romp, revel.
47 dally.
ANTONYMS FOR play
3, 45
work.
OTHER WORDS FROM play
Words nearby play
British Dictionary definitions for play out (1 of 2)
play out
verb (adverb)
(tr)
to finish
let's play the game out if we aren't too late
(tr; often passive) informal
to use up or exhaust
(tr)
to release gradually
he played the rope out
(intr)
to happen or turn out
Let's wait and see how things play out
British Dictionary definitions for play out (2 of 2)
play
/ (pleɪ) /
verb
noun
Derived forms of play
playability, noun playable, adjectiveWord Origin for play
Old English
plega (n),
plegan (vb); related to Middle Dutch
pleyen
Idioms and Phrases with play out (1 of 2)
play out
Finish, run out, as in This extreme fashion will soon play out, or The tension between factions will surely play itself out by next year. [Late 1500s]
Unwind, unreel, as in They slowly played out the cable. Also see played out.
Idioms and Phrases with play out (2 of 2)
play