Meaning & use
play
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To do something for fun, especially as a child, rather than for work.
Grammar: No object needed: the kids play outside.
Patterns
- play with someone
- play with something
- play outside
The children play in the yard after school.
The puppy likes to play with a rope.
Let's go out and play.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To take part in a sport or game, or to compete against someone.
Grammar: Takes a game as an object: play chess. Or an opponent: play him.
Patterns
- play a game
- play against someone
- play for a team
My sister plays soccer for the school team.
We played cards until midnight.
They will play the champions next week.
verbtransitive or intransitivemusic
To make music with an instrument, or to make a recording produce sound.
Grammar: Takes an instrument or a song: play the piano, play a song.
Patterns
- play an instrument
- play a song
- play something for someone
He plays the guitar in a local band.
Could you play that song again?
The radio was playing softly in the kitchen.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To perform a part in a drama or film.
Grammar: Takes a role as an object: play Hamlet.
Patterns
- play a role
- play a part
- play the part of someone
She plays the detective in the new series.
He played a farmer in the film.
Who is playing the queen?
nouncountable
A piece of writing meant to be performed by actors on a stage.
Grammar: Contrast with film: a play is performed live.
Patterns
- write a play
- see a play
- a play by someone
Our class performed a play about the Gold Rush.
They saw a play at the local theater.
She wrote her first play at sixteen.
noununcountable
Activity done for amusement rather than for a serious purpose.
Grammar: Not used with a: children learn through play.
Patterns
- learn through play
- at play
- a time for play
Children learn a lot through play.
The nursery has a large area for play.
After the long lesson came an hour of free play.
Word forms
| third person singular | plays |
|---|---|
| past tense | played |
| past participle | played |
| -ing form | playing |
| plural | plays |
Common combinations
- play a game
- We played a game of checkers after dinner.
- play the piano
- She plays the piano every evening.
- play a role
- Sleep plays a role in memory.
- play down
- The manager tried to play down the mistake.
- play along
- I'll play along, but I don't believe him.
- play for time
- He kept talking to play for time.
Synonyms and how they differ
- amuse oneself
- Amuse oneself is a more formal way to say you are keeping yourself entertained, while play is the plain word.
- perform
- Perform is used for any act before an audience, while play is specifically for instruments, games, and roles.
- compete
- Compete stresses trying to win, while play can simply mean taking part for fun.
- drama
- Drama is a general term for theatrical work, while play is one specific written piece.
Opposites
Word family
- player noun
- a person who takes part in a game or plays an instrument
- playful adjective
- fond of fun and joking
- playfully adverb
- in a light-hearted way
- playground noun
- an outdoor area for children's games
- playwright noun
- a person who writes plays
Practice
The prime minister tried to ______ the scandal, calling it a minor misunderstanding.
Choose one answer.
To play down is to make something seem less important. Play up means the opposite, so it would not fit a minimizing statement.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “play”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.