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
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 SutphenGood conversation, then, is like a well-played game of whist.
Conversation |Mary Greer ConklinI 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, adjectiveWord Origin for play
Old English
plega (n),
plegan (vb); related to Middle Dutch
pleyen
Idioms and Phrases with well-played
play