English | German | Russian | Czech
Englishfor English speakers
Englishas a second language
A1

play English

Meaning play meaning

What does play mean?
Definitions in simple English

play Verb

— To do things for amusement. Children like to play all day. — If you play a musical instrument, you make music using it. He plays guitar in a rock and roll band.

play Noun

— Something a group of actors does, in a theatre, for people to watch. The actors on the stage had clothes with bright colors.

play

— verb participate in games or sport We played hockey all afternoon play cards Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches — verb act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome This factor played only a minor part in his decision This development played into her hands I played no role in your dismissal — noun a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway — verb play on an instrument The band played all night long — verb (= act) play a role or part Gielgud played Hamlet She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role She played the servant to her husband's master — verb be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children The kids were playing outside all day I used to play with trucks as a little girl — verb replay (as a melody) Play it again, Sam She played the third movement very beautifully — noun a theatrical performance of a drama the play lasted two hours — noun a preset plan of action in team sports the coach drew up the plays for her team — verb perform music on (a musical instrument) He plays the flute Can you play on this old recorder? — verb (= act) pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind He acted the idiot She plays deaf when the news are bad — noun (= maneuver, manoeuvre) a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill he made a great maneuver the runner was out on a play by the shortstop — verb move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly The spotlights played on the politicians — verb bet or wager (money) He played $20 on the new horse She plays the races — verb pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity Let's play like I am mommy Play cowboy and Indians — verb (= recreate) engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion On weekends I play The students all recreate alike — verb emit recorded sound The tape was playing for hours the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered — verb perform on a certain location The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16 She has been playing on Broadway for years — verb put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game He is playing his cards close to his chest The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory — verb (= toy) engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously They played games on their opponents play the stock market play with her feelings toy with an idea — noun a state in which action is feasible the ball was still in play insiders said the company's stock was in play — noun activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child — noun utilization or exercise the play of the imagination — verb use to one's advantage She plays on her clients' emotions — verb (= run) cause to emit recorded audio or video They ran the tapes over and over again I'll play you my favorite record He never tires of playing that video — verb behave in a certain way play safe play it safe play fair — noun (= bid) an attempt to get something they made a futile play for power he made a bid to gain attention — verb (= trifle) consider not very seriously He is trifling with her She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania — verb (= fiddle) manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination She played nervously with her wedding ring Don't fiddle with the screws He played with the idea of running for the Senate — verb be performed or presented for public viewing What's playing in the local movie theater? 'Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years — verb cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack — verb make bets Play the races play the casinos in Trouville — verb shoot or hit in a particular manner She played a good backhand last night — verb employ in a game or in a specific position They played him on first base — verb use or move I had to play my queen — verb discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream play water from a hose The fountains played all day — verb be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way This speech didn't play well with the American public His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee — noun (= frolic) gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement it was all done in play their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly — noun the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully — verb exhaust by allowing to pull on the line play a hooked fish — noun (= free rein) the removal of constraints he gave free rein to his impulses they gave full play to the artist's talent — noun (= turn) (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession it is my turn it is still my play — noun (= fun, sport) verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously) he became a figure of fun he said it in sport — noun (= shimmer) a weak and tremulous light the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers the play of light on the water — noun movement or space for movement there was too much play in the steering wheel — verb (= act) perform on a stage or theater She acts in this play He acted in 'Julius Caesar' I played in 'A Christmas Carol' — verb (= bring, work, wreak) cause to happen or to occur as a consequence I cannot work a miracle wreak havoc bring comments play a joke The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area — verb behave carelessly or indifferently Play about with a young girl's affection — verb contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle Princeton plays Yale this weekend Charlie likes to play Mary — verb (= bet) stake on the outcome of an issue I bet $100 on that new horse She played all her money on the dark horse — noun (= gambling) the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize) his gambling cost him a fortune there was heavy play at the blackjack table — noun (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds rain stopped play in the 4th inning

Synonyms play synonyms

What other words have the same or similar meaning as play?

play English » English

sport game perform act drama frolic pastime have fun show fun performance dance toy recreation move joke romp represent dally jest gamble do work turn trifle tease render gambol dramatic performance blow amusement amuse oneself pleasure give gambling bet beat wager sing run ring recreate pretend present meet gaming entertainment diversion depict behave

Topics play topics

What do people use play to talk about?
Social behavior Social activity

Drama
Social behavior Social activity Entertainment, recreation Sports

Basketball
Language and thought Communication Mass communication

Recorded music
Social behavior Social activity Entertainment, recreation

Game
Social behavior Social activity Entertainment, recreation

Sports
Social behavior Social activity

Play, fun
Social behavior Social activity

Humor
Social behavior Social activity Music

Musical instrument
Social behavior Social activity

Entertainment, recreation
Social behavior Social activity Entertainment, recreation Game

Card game
Social behavior Social activity Music

Play music
Social behavior Behavior Honest

Deceive
Person Life Die

Kill
Person Life Die

Funeral
Language and thought Communication Say True

Tell the truth
Language and thought Communication Say Criticize

Mock
Social behavior Religion Miracle, supernatural power

Omen, divination
States Quality Light Color

Multicolored
States Time Relative time Right time

Delay
Grammar General words Thing

Situation

Conjugation play conjugation

How do you conjugate play?

play · verb

Examples play examples

How do I use play in a sentence?

Simple sentences

When the cat is away, the mice will play.
If you like, I will teach you to play chess.
Will you try to play the trumpet?
Do you play tennis?
Don't play in this room.
Children play with toys.
Children play with blocks.
We used to play in the park.
I play tennis all the year around.
I play tennis.
I saw Tom play tennis.
I want him to play the guitar.
I play the guitar before dinner.
I will play Sudoku then instead of continuing to bother you.
You had better not play on his generous nature.
The time has come for you to play your trump card.
Nowadays children do not play outdoors.
Do you play a musical instrument?
I used to play tennis when I was a student.
May I go out to play?
We were watching the child at play.
Company A is trying to play us off against Company B in a severe price-war.
It's dangerous to play around the fire.
Let's play some video games to kill time.
What shall we play?
Come on, play with me, I'm so bored!
Do you not play tennis?
You play the guitar quite like a professional, don't you?
All the students will partake in the play.
Some of the students like to play the guitar.

Movie subtitles

It's the entire play written in text.
That play was the most. beautiful thing I've ever seen.
So, what did the Mormon President think of our play?
I think she thinks that I could've been trying to scare her, play a sick joke on her.
You are going to be so suprised when I find out the truth then, I'll have you play that bell plenty of times.
This Magistrate role play will become your karma as it is.
Let's play a game. Oh! Yeah.
Okay, you want to play that game?
Why can't we play with my trucks?
All right, let's. we're gonna try a little role-play, okay?
Got it. Hold on, where-where in the play do we eat the damn paellas?
GLEN MOFFATT'S 'A PLACE TO PLAY' PLAYS I always liked poetry.
And, uh, how exactly does it play out? Ah, yes.
He was well enough to play?
The Netherlands continue to play an important role in an area where new discoveries are still being made, new instruments are being developed and the frontiers of our know-how and knowledge are constantly being pushed out.
Fine, I'll play matchmaker.
When we play cops and robbers, the robbers are always Arabs.
Of course you can play cop, but you can't kill anyone.
You can play with me.
It's for a good cause, that of a French Algeria where Jews will play an important role.
She never will. All right, let's. we're gonna try a little role-play, okay?
He's coming to the play.
Is that the program for the play?
Okay, I don't know anything about the play!
So, the play is a love triangle between Hero and his boyfriend, Coma Boy, who's in a coma, and Hope, some girl he meets online?
I'd get to be in a play and have a girlfriend who would show up backstage with a bouquet of roses, and it would all be perfect, but.
Uh, no. You can give it to her yourself at the play tonight.
Um, so Tristan is coming to the play, and he. he can't find out about us.
Kids can't just play anywhere they want, because the yard is carved up into a whole bunch of, like, territories.
The territories are all controlled by different groups who all have their own rules for who gets to play where.
They decide who can play there.
They let other girls play there, but only if they like them. They won't let boys play there, 'cause they think boys are smelly.
Except, they let Danny Steele play there, but that's only because he smells like one of those scented candles.
The tables where kids play Ju-Ji-Mon, that's the realm of the nerds.
Anyone can play there if they want- - The nerds can't stop them.
But nerds tend to be really good Ju-Ji-Mon players, so the other kids are, like, scared to play there.
They also control the soccer pitch, which means if you want to play there, you have to ask permission from Frankie and his crew.
We want to play the winners. The losers of this game are playing the winners.
Nick, they haven't allowed us to play on the soccer pitch all year.
And now, because of Frankie and his crew, I can't even play on the soccer pitch.
None of us even want to play soccer anymore, 'cause we're all too nervous and shit.

News and current affairs

As in the Soviet era, state and governmental officials will be reduced to party ciphers - the role that President Medvedev will play under General Secretary Putin.
Sometimes, more folkloric details come into play, broadening the members of this cabal to include the Illuminati, the Freemasons, Rhodes Scholars, or, as always, the Jews.
Most likely, all three of these methods will have to play a role.
Not only do they repeatedly generate destabilizing asset bubbles, but, when demand weakens, forces that exacerbate the downturn come into play.
But autonomous economic regions should be avoided as a threat to Afghan national unity because they would play into the hands of the warlords.
A technological breakthrough - the steam engine, computers, the Internet - may play a leading role.
Universities have a special role to play in the new UN knowledge network.
The world's corporate sector also has a significant role to play in sustainable development.
Many will never finish even primary school, or be able to play an effective role in modern society.
That middle class was beginning to play a more significant role in shaping domestic and international Russian policy under Dmitri Medvedev.
But there is still reason to believe that, at least in the first half of this century, the US will retain its primacy in power resources and continue to play the central role in the global balance of power.
Since shareholder democracy does not provide effective control over entrenched, runaway, self-indulgent management, finance has a potentially powerful role to play in ensuring that corporate managers work in the interest of shareholders.
All of these factors place deep stresses on the social fabric which, so the skeptics argue, will ultimately play out in the political arena.
Countries like South Korea and Japan, for example, have curtailed their imports of Iranian oil only reluctantly; countries like China and Russia rarely play straight on sanctions in the first place.
A changing world in which new powers like China and India play an increasingly important role will not wait for Europe to make up its mind.
In both places, other policymaking entities, with much better tools at their disposal, appear either unwilling or unable to play their part.
The point, simply, is that with so many people in so many countries demanding far-reaching change, the politics of gender is very much in play - in Europe and beyond.
Moreover, these industries often play a central role in the economic development of resource-rich countries.
Across Africa, political leaders, long dismissive of rural concerns, have awakened to the importance of agriculture and the role that educated people, even those living in major cities, can play in farming.
If the US were to play a relatively smaller role in world affairs, and no other system was created to pick up the slack, these values could be at risk.
With the euro looking less appetizing as a diversification play away from the dollar, gold's appeal has naturally grown.
Only Europe can play the role of honest broker in the region's atmosphere of suspicion and intolerance.
It is sometimes tempting to let intractable conflicts fester, and there are some situations where other countries can play the mediator's role more effectively.
And America must be a respectful partner in order to encourage rising powers like India and China to play more constructive roles in international affairs.

Are you looking for...?

place bricks | PLA | place | plaas | place cell | plabic | pla ra | placcy | place close to | placably | place of | place it
Wordcyclopedia Gutes Wörterbuch Толстый словарь Dobrý slovník
Sources WordNet, Open Multilingual Wordnet, Wiktionary, Dbnary, Panlex, FreeLing, Tatoeba, OpenSubtitles.org, Project Syndicate, OPUS, Kelly Project, SIL Semantic Domains
Contact info@wordcyclopedia.com
Creative Commons BY-SA