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

Example sentences from the Web for well-played

  • Constans felt his face flush hotly as he noted the contempt implied in his enemy's well-played indifference.

    The Doomsman |Van Tassel Sutphen
  • Good conversation, then, is like a well-played game of whist.

    Conversation |Mary Greer Conklin
  • I should put it as quite the best piece of playing in a well-played piece.

  • A well-played scale is a truly beautiful thing, but few people play them well because they do not practice them enough.

    Piano Playing |Josef Hofmann

British Dictionary definitions for well-played (1 of 2)

well-played

adjective (well played when postpositive)

(of a piece of music, game, etc) skilfully or pleasingly executed

British Dictionary definitions for well-played (2 of 2)

play
/ (pleɪ) /

verb

noun

Derived forms of play

playability, noun playable, adjective

Word Origin for play

Old English plega (n), plegan (vb); related to Middle Dutch pleyen

Idioms and Phrases with well-played

play