play

How to use play in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for play.

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Editorial note

Our skills needs also track the market, because we have to play on our clients turf.

Examples12

Definitions52

Parts of speech2

Quick take

a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"

Meaning at a glance

The clearest senses and uses of play gathered in one view.

noun

a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"

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"

Definitions

Core meanings and parts of speech for play.

noun

a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"

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"

noun

a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"

noun

a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"

noun

utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"

noun

an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"

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

(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"

noun

the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"

noun

a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"

noun

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

movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"

noun

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

(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"

noun

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

the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully

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"

verb

play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"

verb

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"

verb

perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"

verb

pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"

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

engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"

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

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

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"

verb

behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"

verb

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

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

use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"

verb

consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"

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"

verb

behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl's affection"

verb

cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"

verb

perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"

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 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

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

make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville"

verb

stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse"

verb

shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"

verb

use or move; "I had to play my queen"

verb

employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"

verb

contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary"

verb

exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"

Example sentences

Our skills needs also track the market, because we have to play on our clients turf.

I don't know how things will play out years down the road and who will do what with this information.

He played his cards right, came out hundreds of millions of dollars ahead, and then he got out.

Heck, even things like sexuality come into play.

Second, if that were the case, then why are people allowed to read books, magazines, and play crossword puzzles on paper?

Facebook can't be blamed for the cultural and relationship issues at play here, but they can be blamed for how they went about this.

I'm not trying to be hyperbolic but that's really shocking for a company that is trying to play a role as a financial institution.

It used to be that HP engineers were expressly given Friday afternoons and full access to company resources to just play with new ideas.

I shouldn't get dirty water, or my power shut off, because the CEO of the utility company allows his/her VPs to play God. There's a reason these guys don't call themselves a "social utility" anymore...

As a corollary, the exercise of liberty does not require a justification, because it's a liberty, practicality or "usefulness" or what-have-you play no part in it.

The top rated comment on this question asserts that the reason why programmers have lower salaries is because they are logical, intelligent individuals who refuse to play the politics game and thus are hated by executives.

Then he advertised how PC version is superior to the one on iPad.- My 2 yo daughter knows what Minecraft is, tells she'll play Minecraft when she grows up.- While we were shopping for school supplies last week, saw two people asking for Minecraft licensed school bags for their kids.- We live in Turkey.