Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural sports, present participle sporting, past tense, past participle sported
1. variable noun
Sports are games such as football and basketball and other competitive leisure activities which need physical effort and skill.
I'd say football is my favourite sport.
She excels at sport.
Mark was mainly interested in sport at school, playing rugby as well as soccer.
Billy turned on a radio to get the sports news.
Synonyms: game, exercise, recreation, play More Synonyms of sport
2. countable noun
If you say that someone is a sport or a good sport, you mean that they cope with a difficult situation or teasing in a cheerful way.
[old-fashioned, approval]
He was accused of having no sense of humor, of not being a good sport.
3. verb
If you say that someone sports something such as a distinctive item of clothing, you mean that they wear it without any shyness.
[written]
He sported a collarless jacket with pleated black panels. [VERB noun]
He was heavily-built and sported a red moustache. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: wear, display, flaunt, boast More Synonyms of sport
More Synonyms of sport
sport in British English
(spɔːt)
noun
1.
an individual or group activity pursued for exercise or pleasure, often involving the testing of physical capabilities and taking the form of a competitive game such as football, tennis, etc
2.
such activities considered collectively
3.
any particular pastime indulged in for pleasure
4.
the pleasure derived from a pastime, esp hunting, shooting, or fishing
we had good sport today
5.
playful or good-humoured joking
to say a thing in sport
6.
derisive mockery or the object of such mockery
to make sport of someone
7.
someone or something that is controlled by external influences
the sport of fate
8. informal(sometimes qualified bygood, bad, etc)
a person who reacts cheerfully in the face of adversity, esp a good loser
9. informal
a person noted for being scrupulously fair and abiding by the rules of a game
10. informal
a person who leads a merry existence, esp a gambler
he's a bit of a sport
11. Australian and New Zealand informal
a form of address used esp between males
12. biology
a.
an animal or plant that differs conspicuously in one or more aspects from other organisms of the same species, usually because of a mutation
b.
an anomalous characteristic of such an organism
verb
13. (transitive) informal
to wear or display in an ostentatious or proud manner
she was sporting a new hat
14. (intransitive)
to skip about or frolic happily
15.
to amuse (oneself), esp in outdoor physical recreation
16. (intransitive; often foll bywith)
to dally or trifle (with)
17. (transitive; often foll byaway) rare
to squander (time or money)
sporting one's life away
18. (intransitive; often foll bywith) archaic
to make fun (of)
19. (intransitive) biology
to produce or undergo a mutation
Derived forms
sporter (ˈsporter)
noun
sportful (ˈsportful)
adjective
sportfully (ˈsportfully)
adverb
sportfulness (ˈsportfulness)
noun
Word origin
C15 sporten, variant of disporten to disport
sport in American English
(spɔrt, spourt)
noun
1.
an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc
2.
a particular form of this, esp. in the out of doors
3.
diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime
4.
jest; fun; mirth; pleasantry
What he said in sport was taken seriously
5.
mockery; ridicule; derision
They made sport of him
6.
an object of derision; laughingstock
7.
something treated lightly or tossed about like a plaything
8.
something or someone subject to the whims or vicissitudes of fate, circumstances, etc
9.
a sportsman
10. informal
a person who behaves in a sportsmanlike, fair, or admirable manner; an accommodating person
He was a sport and took his defeat well
11. informal
a person who is interested in sports as an occasion for gambling; gambler
12. informal
a flashy person; one who wears showy clothes, affects smart manners, pursues pleasurable pastimes, or the like; a bon vivant
13. Biology
an organism or part that shows an unusual or singular deviation from the normal or parent type; mutation
14. obsolete
amorous dalliance
adjective
15.
of, pertaining to, or used in sports or a particular sport
16.
suitable for outdoor or informal wear
sport clothes
intransitive verb
17.
to amuse oneself with some pleasant pastime or recreation
18.
to play, frolic, or gambol, as a child or an animal
19.
to engage in some open-air or athletic pastime or sport
20.
to trifle or treat lightly
to sport with another's emotions
21.
to mock, scoff, or tease
to sport at suburban life
22. Botany
to mutate
transitive verb
23.
to pass (time) in amusement or sport
24. (often fol. by away)
to spend or squander lightly or recklessly
25. informal
to wear, display, carry, etc., esp. with ostentation; show off
to sport a new mink coat
26. archaic
to amuse (esp. oneself)
27. See sport one's oak
Derived forms
sportful
adjective
sportfully
adverb
sportfulness
noun
sportless
adjective
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME; aph. var. of disport]
COBUILD Collocations
sport
competitive sport
elite sport
motor sport
Olympic sport
professional sport
Examples of 'sport' in a sentence
sport
That is just the law of sports and life.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
So this government is focused on encouraging competitive sport in schools.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
What is the difference between a sport and pastime?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
And international sport makes sense only when there is an authentic sense of national identity.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
What the sport needs is new people in charge.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He shone at sport and played basketball nationally.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We embrace unfamiliar sports the way we embrace the circus when it comes to town.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Use it before playing sport or going to the gym.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The laws are meant to be for the good of the sport.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We are no longer watching a group of outsiders trying to play an eccentric form of sport.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Soccer and netball are usually the favourite team sports.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is also no more cynical sport than football.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But sports and leisure are not trivial.
Christianity Today (2000)
Luck is linked to unexpected sports news.
The Sun (2013)
What is your priority when you are trying to administer a bit of sport?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Luck connects you to a friend who knows a lot about sport.
The Sun (2009)
We all know that we watch sport for fun.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is a very mature view of life and sport.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Being competitive in sport can prepare you for other areas.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They must have indulged in lawful sports and pastimes on the land.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was as if he was crafted from above to play a sport in a manner no one could quite equal.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some of the men sport mother-in-law wedding hats.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Sports and games are common forms of adult play, and common sources of happiness.
Paul Martin MAKING HAPPY PEOPLE (2005)
I can't bear watching motor sports.
The Sun (2012)
Quotations
I'm fanatical about sport: there seems to me something almost religious about the fact that human beings can organize play, the spirit of playSimon Gray
When a man wants to murder a tiger he calls it sport; when the tiger wants to murder him he calls it ferocityGeorge Bernard ShawMaxims for Revolutionists
The flannelled fools at the wicket or the muddied oafs at the goalsRudyard KiplingThe Islanders
To be No. 1 in sport you have to have a narrow tunnel vision. Dedication. You want to call it selfishness, arrogance, whatever. It's dog eat dog. There areno prisoners taken; there's none expectedIan Botham
It's more than a game. It's an institutionThomas Hughes (of cricket)Tom Brown's Schooldays
cricket - a game which the English, not being a spiritual people, have invented in order to give themselves some conception of eternityLord MancroftBees in Some Bonnets
Golf is a good walk spoiledMark Twain
In other languages
sport
British English: sport /spɔːt/ NOUN
Sports are games and other competitive activities which need physical effort and skill.
Basketball is my favourite sport.
American English: sport
Arabic: رِيَاضَة
Brazilian Portuguese: esporte
Chinese: 体育
Croatian: sport
Czech: sport
Danish: sport
Dutch: sport
European Spanish: deporte
Finnish: urheilu
French: sport
German: Sport
Greek: άθλημα
Italian: sport
Japanese: スポーツ
Korean: 스포츠
Norwegian: idrett
Polish: sport
European Portuguese: desporto
Romanian: sport
Russian: спорт
Latin American Spanish: deporte
Swedish: sport
Thai: กีฬา
Turkish: spor
Ukrainian: спорт
Vietnamese: môn thể thao
All related terms of 'sport'
bud sport
a shoot, inflorescence , etc, that differs from another such structure on a plant and is caused by a somatic mutation ; the differences can be retained by vegetative propagation
blood sport
Blood sports are sports such as hunting in which animals are killed .
elite sport
Sports are games such as football and basketball and other competitive leisure activities which need physical effort and skill.
field sport
Hunting , shooting birds , and fishing with a rod are referred to as field sports when they are done mainly for pleasure .
mind sport
any of various competitive games based on intellectual capability , such as chess or bridge
motor sport
Sports are games such as football and basketball and other competitive leisure activities which need physical effort and skill.
sport coat
A sport coat is a man's jacket . It is worn on informal occasions with pants of a different material.
sport fish
a type of fish that is prized for the sport it gives the angler in its capture rather than for its value as food
team sport
a sport in which teams play against each other
contact sport
a sport that involves physical contact between participants, such as rugby
extreme sport
Extreme sports are exciting , physically dangerous sports such as bungee jumping or snowboarding.
Olympic sport
Sports are games such as football and basketball and other competitive leisure activities which need physical effort and skill .
sport jacket
A sport jacket is the same as a → sport coat .
sport utility
a high-powered vehicle with four-wheel drive, originally designed for off-road use
spectator sport
A spectator sport is a sport that is interesting and entertaining to watch .
competitive sport
Sports are games such as football and basketball and other competitive leisure activities which need physical effort and skill .
electronic sport
→ the full form of esport
professional sport
Sports are games such as football and basketball and other competitive leisure activities which need physical effort and skill .
esport
a video game played competitively in front of spectators
participatory sport
a sport in which people take part, (as opposed to a spectator sport)
sport one's oak
to shut this door as a sign one does not want visitors
sports club
A club is an organization of people interested in a particular activity or subject who usually meet on a regular basis .
sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a powerful vehicle with four-wheel drive that can be driven over rough ground . The abbreviation → SUV is often used.
sports utility
a high-powered vehicle with four-wheel drive , originally designed for off-road use
she's a (good) sport (o.f.) 她是一个(個)大度的人 (tā shì yī gè dàdù de rén)
1 (noun)
Definition
such activities collectively
I'd say football is my favourite sport.
Synonyms
game
the game of hide-and-seek
exercise
Lack of exercise can lead to feelings of depression and exhaustion.
recreation
Saturday afternoon is for recreation and outings.
play
Try to strike a balance between work and play.
a few hours of play until you go to bed
entertainment
He organized entertainments and events for elderly people.
amusement
People had very few amusements to choose from in those days.
diversion
Finger-painting is an excellent diversion.
pastime
His favourite pastime is golf.
physical activity
2 (noun)
Definition
playful or good-humoured joking
Had themselves a bit of sport first, didn't they?
Synonyms
fun
There was lots of fun going on last night.
kidding (informal)
joking
teasing
ridicule
He was subjected to public ridicule.
joshing (slang)
banter
She heard them exchanging good-natured banter.
frolic
Their relationship is never short on fun and frolic.
jest
It was a jest rather than a reproach.
mirth
That caused considerable mirth amongst the pupils.
merriment
He jokes and ad-libs, to the general merriment of the audience.
badinage
She tried to respond to his light-hearted badinage.
raillery
3 (noun)
Synonyms
mockery
Was there a glint of mockery in his eyes?
derision
He tried to calm them but was greeted with shouts of derision.
1 (verb)
Definition
to wear proudly
(informal)
He was fat-faced, heavily-built and sported a red moustache.
Synonyms
wear
Millson's face wore a smug expression.
display
She does not have to display her charms.
flaunt
openly flaunting their wealth
boast
She boasted about her achievements.
exhibit
Her work was exhibited in the best galleries in Europe.
flourish
He flourished his glass to make the point.
show off
He had been showing off at the poker table.
vaunt
2 (verb)
Synonyms
frolic
Tourists sunbathe and frolic in the ocean.
play
The children played in the garden.
romp
Dogs romped happily in the garden.
caper
The children were capering about, shouting and laughing.
gambol
children gambolling in the fields
disport
phrasal verb
See sport with someone
see also subject word lists:
See Athletic eventsSee Ball gamesSee Boxing weightsSee Cricket termsSee EquestrianismSee Fencing termsSee footballSee Golf termsSee Gymnastic eventsSee Martial arts and termsSee Motor sportsSee Rugby termsSee Snooker and billiards termsSee Tennis termsSee Water sportsSee Winter sports
subject word lists
See Team sportsSee Combat sportsSee Other sports
Quotations
I'm fanatical about sport: there seems to me something almost religious about the fact that human beings can organize play, the spirit of play [Simon Gray]When a man wants to murder a tiger he calls it sport; when the tiger wants to murder him he calls it ferocity [George Bernard Shaw – Maxims for Revolutionists]The flannelled fools at the wicket or the muddied oafs at the goals [Rudyard Kipling – The Islanders]To be No. 1 in sport you have to have a narrow tunnel vision. Dedication. You want to call it selfishness, arrogance, whatever. It's dog eat dog. There are no prisoners taken; there's none expected [Ian Botham]It's more than a game. It's an institution [Thomas Hughes (of cricket) – Tom Brown's Schooldays]cricket - a game which the English, not being a spiritual people, have invented in order to give themselves some conception of eternity [Lord Mancroft – Bees in Some Bonnets]Golf is a good walk spoiled [Mark Twain]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of amusement
Definition
something that amuses or entertains someone
People had very few amusements to choose from in those days.
Synonyms
pastime,
game,
sport,
joke,
entertainment,
hobby,
recreation,
distraction,
diversion,
lark,
prank
in the sense of badinage
Definition
playful and witty conversation
She tried to respond to his light-hearted badinage.
Synonyms
banter,
joking,
teasing,
mockery,
chaff,
pleasantry,
repartee,
wordplay,
drollery,
raillery,
persiflage
in the sense of banter
Definition
teasing or joking conversation
She heard them exchanging good-natured banter.
Synonyms
joking,
kidding (informal),
ribbing (informal),
teasing,
jeering,
quipping,
mockery,
derision,
jesting,
chaff,
pleasantry,
repartee,
wordplay,
joshing,
badinage,
chaffing,
raillery,
persiflage
Synonyms of 'sport'
sport
Explore 'sport' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of boast
Definition
to speak in excessively proud terms of one's possessions, talents, etc.
She boasted about her achievements.
Synonyms
brag,
crow,
vaunt,
bluster,
talk big (slang),
blow your own trumpet,
show off,
be proud of,
flaunt,
showboat,
congratulate yourself on,
flatter yourself,
pride yourself on,
skite (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
swagger,
swank (informal)
in the sense of caper
Definition
to skip about light-heartedly
The children were capering about, shouting and laughing.
Synonyms
dance,
trip,
spring,
jump,
bound,
leap,
bounce,
hop,
skip,
romp,
frolic,
cavort,
frisk,
gambol
in the sense of derision
He tried to calm them but was greeted with shouts of derision.
Synonyms
mockery,
laughter,
contempt,
ridicule,
scorn,
insult,
sneering,
disdain,
scoffing,
disrespect,
denigration,
disparagement,
contumely (literary),
raillery
in the sense of display
She does not have to display her charms.
Synonyms
show off,
parade,
exhibit,
sport (informal),
flash (informal),
boast,
flourish,
brandish,
flaunt,
vaunt,
showboat,
make a (great) show of,
disport,
make an exhibition of
in the sense of diversion
Definition
a pleasant or amusing pastime or activity
Finger-painting is an excellent diversion.
Synonyms
pastime,
play,
game,
sport,
delight,
pleasure,
entertainment,
hobby,
relaxation,
recreation,
enjoyment,
distraction,
amusement,
gratification,
divertissement,
beguilement
in the sense of entertainment
Definition
an act or show that entertains, or such acts and shows collectively
He organized entertainments and events for elderly people.
Synonyms
pastime,
show,
sport,
performance,
play,
treat,
presentation,
leisure activity,
beer and skittles
in the sense of exercise
Definition
physical exertion, esp. for training or keeping fit
Lack of exercise can lead to feelings of depression and exhaustion.
Synonyms
exertion,
training,
activity,
action,
work,
labour,
effort,
movement,
discipline,
toil,
physical activity
in the sense of exhibit
Definition
to display (a work of art) to the public
Her work was exhibited in the best galleries in Europe.
Synonyms
display,
show,
present,
set out,
parade,
unveil,
flaunt,
put on view
in the sense of flaunt
Definition
to display (oneself or one's possessions) arrogantly
openly flaunting their wealth
Synonyms
show off,
display,
boast,
parade,
exhibit,
flourish,
brandish,
vaunt,
showboat,
make a (great) show of,
sport (informal),
disport,
make an exhibition of,
flash about
in the sense of flourish
Definition
to wave (something) dramatically
He flourished his glass to make the point.
Synonyms
wave,
brandish,
sweep,
swish,
display,
shake,
swing,
wield,
flutter,
wag,
flaunt,
vaunt,
twirl
Additional synonyms
in the sense of gambol
Definition
to jump about playfully
children gambolling in the fields
Synonyms
frolic,
jump,
hop,
skip,
romp,
lark,
caper,
prance,
cavort,
frisk,
curvet,
cut a caper
in the sense of jest
Definition
something done or said to amuse people
It was a jest rather than a reproach.
Synonyms
joke,
play,
crack (slang),
sally,
gag (informal),
quip,
josh (slang),
banter,
hoax,
prank,
wisecrack (informal),
pleasantry,
witticism,
jape,
bon mot,
sport,
fun
in the sense of merriment
He jokes and ad-libs, to the general merriment of the audience.
Synonyms
fun,
amusement,
glee,
mirth,
sport,
laughter,
festivity,
frolic,
gaiety (old-fashioned),
hilarity,
revelry,
jollity,
levity,
liveliness,
conviviality,
joviality,
jocularity,
merrymaking
in the sense of mirth
Definition
laughter, gaiety, or merriment
That caused considerable mirth amongst the pupils.
Synonyms
merriment,
amusement,
fun,
pleasure,
laughter,
rejoicing,
festivity,
glee,
frolic,
sport,
gaiety (old-fashioned),
hilarity,
cheerfulness,
revelry,
jollity,
levity,
gladness,
joviality,
jocularity,
merrymaking,
joyousness
in the sense of pastime
Definition
an activity which makes time pass pleasantly
His favourite pastime is golf.
Synonyms
activity,
game,
sport,
entertainment,
leisure,
hobby,
relaxation,
recreation,
distraction,
amusement,
diversion
in the sense of play
Definition
games or other activity undertaken for pleasure
Try to strike a balance between work and play.a few hours of play until you go to bed
Synonyms
amusement,
pleasure,
leisure,
games,
sport,
fun,
entertainment,
relaxation,
a good time,
recreation,
enjoyment,
romping,
larks,
capering,
frolicking,
junketing,
fun and games,
revelry,
skylarking,
living it up (informal),
gambolling,
horseplay,
merrymaking,
me-time
in the sense of play
Definition
to occupy oneself in (a sport or recreation)
The children played in the garden.
Synonyms
amuse yourself,
have fun,
frolic,
sport,
fool,
romp,
revel,
trifle,
caper,
frisk,
gambol,
entertain yourself,
engage in games
in the sense of raillery
Definition
good-natured teasing
Synonyms
teasing,
sport,
kidding (informal),
joke,
joking,
irony,
ridicule,
satire,
josh (slang, US, Canadian),
mockery,
banter,
jesting,
chaff,
pleasantry,
repartee,
badinage,
persiflage
in the sense of recreation
Definition
an activity done for pleasure or relaxation
Saturday afternoon is for recreation and outings.
Synonyms
leisure,
play,
sport,
exercise,
fun,
relief,
pleasure,
entertainment,
relaxation,
enjoyment,
distraction,
amusement,
diversion,
refreshment,
beer and skittles (informal),
me-time
in the sense of ridicule
Definition
language or behaviour intended to humiliate or mock
He was subjected to public ridicule.
Synonyms
mockery,
scorn,
derision,
laughter,
irony,
rib,
taunting,
sneer,
satire,
jeer,
banter,
sarcasm,
chaff,
gibe,
raillery,
banter
Additional synonyms
in the sense of romp
Definition
to play or run about wildly or joyfully
Dogs romped happily in the garden.
Synonyms
frolic,
sport,
skip,
have fun,
revel,
caper,
cavort,
frisk,
gambol,
make merry,
rollick,
roister,
cut capers
in the sense of show off
Definition
to flaunt skills, knowledge, or looks in order to attract attention or impress people