play
verb /pleɪ/
/pleɪ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they play | /pleɪ/ /pleɪ/ |
| he / she / it plays | /pleɪz/ /pleɪz/ |
| past simple played | /pleɪd/ /pleɪd/ |
| past participle played | /pleɪd/ /pleɪd/ |
| -ing form playing | /ˈpleɪɪŋ/ /ˈpleɪɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to do things for pleasure, as children do; to enjoy yourself, rather than work
- You'll have to play inside today.
- There's a time to work and a time to play.
- play with somebody/something A group of kids were playing with a ball in the street.
- I haven't got anybody to play with!
- play something Let's play a different game.
Synonyms entertainmententertainment- fun
- recreation
- relaxation
- play
- pleasure
- amusement
- entertainment films, television, music, etc. used to entertain people:
- There are three bars, with live entertainment seven nights a week.
- fun (rather informal) behaviour or activities that are not serious but are meant to be enjoyed:
- It wasn’t serious—it was all done in fun.
- We didn’t mean to hurt him. It was just a bit of fun.
- The lottery provides harmless fun for millions.
- recreation (rather formal) things people do for pleasure when they are not working:
- His only form of recreation is playing football.
- relaxation (rather formal) things people do to rest and enjoy themselves when they are not working; the ability to relax:
- I go hill-walking for relaxation.
- play things that people, especially children, do for pleasure rather than as work:
- the happy sounds of children at play
- pleasure the activity of enjoying yourself, especially in contrast to working:
- Are you in Paris for business or pleasure?
- amusement the fact of being entertained by something:
- What do you do for amusement round here?
- to do something for entertainment/fun/recreation/relaxation/pleasure/amusement
- to provide entertainment/fun/recreation/relaxation/amusement
Culture toys and gamestoys and gamesMost young children are given toys for their birthday or at Christmas. Many regularly spend their pocket money on smaller toys. Popular toys include building bricks such as Lego, plastic farm animals, toy cars, model railways and dressing-up costumes. Many children have dolls, and several sets of clothes to dress them in. Particularly popular are Action Man figures and Barbie dolls. Babies are given rattles (= toys that make a noise when shaken), soft toys and teddy bears. Action figures, small plastic models of characters from television shows or films, are also popular. Some parents do not allow their children to have guns or other toys that represent weapons because they do not want them to think it is fun to injure or kill people.Among traditional games that are still popular are board games such as snakes and ladders and Cluedo, card games such as Happy Families and Snap, and word games such as hangman and Scrabble.Children play outside with skipping ropes, bicycles, skateboards, scooters and Rollerblades. In playgrounds there are often swings, a slide, a see-saw and a climbing frame (NAmE jungle gym) to climb on. Traditional games played outside include hopscotch, a game in which children hop over squares drawn on the ground to try to pick up a stone, and tag, in which one child runs after the others until he or she catches one of them and then that child has to chase the rest.Few people give up games completely when they become adults. Many people play card games like bridge and poker, and board games such as Scrabble, Monopoly, backgammon and chess.Games consoles and apps are very popular. Games can be played online, either against a real opponent, who is playing somewhere else on their own device, or against a computer program that can be set to a suitable level of difficulty.Extra Examples- The other children wouldn't let him play.
- The little girl was playing with her toys.
- The children spent too much time playing computer games.
- I used to spend hours playing with Lego.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + play- let somebody
- at
- with
- [transitive, no passive, intransitive] to pretend to be or do something for fun
- play something Let's play pirates.
- play at something Let's play at pirates!
- play at doing something They were playing at being cowboys.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + play- let somebody
- at
- with
- [transitive, intransitive] to be involved in a game; to compete against somebody in a game
- play something to play football/cards
- play something with/against somebody I usually play chess with my brother.
- play somebody France are playing Wales tomorrow.
- play somebody at something Have you played her at squash yet?
- play for somebody He plays for Cleveland.
- play against somebody France are playing against Wales on Saturday.
- play with somebody I like football, but I don't have anyone to play with.
- + adv./prep. Evans played very well.
Extra ExamplesTopics Games and toysa1- I've never played John at tennis.
- She has played in every game this season.
- She was playing cards with her mother.
- These guys make the team very difficult to play against.
- United are difficult to play against.
- Do you want to play cards with me?
- Have you ever played her at chess?
- They play basketball on Saturday mornings.
- They've played six games in the last month.
- If you are interested in playing or coaching, please contact the club president.
- He plays golf on Sundays.
- Both teams played well.
- She plays for the local team.
- Matches were played on Sunday.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- brilliantly
- superbly
- well
- …
- learn to
- teach somebody to
- be difficult to
- …
- against
- at
- for
- …
- [intransitive] to take a particular position in a sports team
- + adv./prep. Who's playing on the wing?
- + noun I've never played right back before.
- [transitive] play somebody (+ adv./prep.) to include somebody in a sports team
- I think we should play Matt on the wing.
- [transitive] play something to make contact with the ball and hit or kick it in the way mentioned
- She played the ball and ran forward.
- He played a backhand volley.
- [transitive] play something (in chess) to move a piece in chess, etc.
- She played her bishop.
- [transitive, intransitive] play (something) (in card games) to put a card face upwards on the table, showing its value
- to play your ace/a trump
- He played out of turn!
- [transitive, intransitive] to perform music on a musical instrument
- play (something) She played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20.
- The music is well played and beautifully recorded.
- In the distance a band was playing.
- play on something He sat in the corner, playing softly on his guitar.
- play something on something He played a tune on his harmonica.
- play something to somebody Play that new piece to us.
- play somebody something Play us that new piece.
Extra ExamplesTopics Musica1- Have you ever heard her play?
- The band will be playing live in the studio.
- a piece that is relatively easy to play
- She was playing songs on her ukelele.
- Classical music was playing in the background.
- He played the bride in with ‘The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- beautifully
- brilliantly
- excellently
- …
- learn to
- teach somebody to
- be easy to
- …
- [transitive] play something to have the skill of performing on a musical instrument
- Do you play a musical instrument?
- to play the piano/violin/flute
- I'm learning to play sax.
Extra Examples- learning to play the violin
- They learnt to dance, sing and play musical instruments.
- In my twenties, I played trombone at a fairly high level.
- [transitive] play something to use an MP3 player, a CD player, etc. to make it possible to hear a song, an album, a CD, etc.
- I played some music to drown out the noise.
- They're always playing that song on the radio.
- [intransitive] (of a song, an album, etc.) to be heard
- My favourite song was playing on the radio.
- [intransitive, transitive] (of a video or DVD) to start working; to make a video on DVD start working
- These videos won't play on my computer.
- play something Click below to play videos.
- Nothing happens when I try to play a DVD.
- A short video was played to the court showing the inside of the house.
- [transitive, intransitive] to act in a play, film, etc.; to act the role of somebody
- play something to play a role/part
- The part of Elizabeth was played by Cate Blanchett.
- He had always wanted to play Othello.
- He was chosen to play the role of Judas.
- She usually plays historical characters.
- play opposite somebody She played opposite Brad Pitt (= she and Brad Pitt played the two leading roles).
- [intransitive, transitive] to pretend to be something that you are not
- The children were dressed as soldiers, but they were just playing.
- + adj. I decided it was safer to play dead.
- + noun She enjoys playing the wronged wife.
- [transitive] play the something to behave as though you are a particular type of person
- This is no time to play the hero.
- She always did enjoy playing the victim.
- [intransitive] play (to somebody) (of a play or show) to be performed
- A production of ‘Carmen’ was playing to packed houses.
- [transitive] play something (of a band, theatre company, etc.) to give a performance in a particular place
- The band are playing 11 cities around the country.
- I've played some fantastic venues.
- [transitive] play a part/role (in something/in doing something) to have an effect or influence on something
- Social media played an important part in the last election.
- Farming plays a crucial role in maintaining the landscape.
- High environmental temperatures may also play a role.
- Businesses can play their part by contributing some of their profits.
- All countries have a part to play in protecting the environment.
Extra Examples- Pesticides play a very important role in food production.
- Sugar plays a major part in dental cavities.
- Zinc may play an important part in the health of the prostate.
- The media has a role to play in informing the public debate.
- [transitive] play a trick/tricks (on somebody) to trick somebody for fun
- Children ran around the village playing tricks.
- I played a trick on him just to see his reaction.
- [transitive] play something + adv./prep. to deal with a situation in the way mentioned
- He played the situation carefully for maximum advantage.
- [intransitive, transitive] (often disapproving) to do something without being serious about it or putting much effort into it
- play at something He was just playing at it before—now he's serious.
- play at doing something They were playing at being villains, like in the movies.
- play something (with something) Officials are playing politics with farm programs.
- [intransitive] (usually in negative sentences) (informal) to be willing to work with other people in a helpful way, especially so that somebody can get what they want
- He needs another loan, but the bank won't play.
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move or appear quickly and lightly, often changing direction or shape
- Sunlight played on the surface of the lake.
- A small smile played on her lips.
- [intransitive] when a fountain plays, it produces a steady stream of water
- Two huge fountains were playing outside the entrance.
More Like This Verbs with two objectsVerbs with two objects- bet
- bring
- build
- buy
- cost
- get
- give
- leave
- lend
- make
- offer
- owe
- pass
- pay
- play
- post
- promise
- read
- refuse
- sell
- send
- show
- sing
- take
- teach
- tell
- throw
- wish
- write
of children
sports/games
music
video/DVD
act/perform
have effect
trick
situation
not do something seriously
be willing to help
of light/a smile
of fountain
Word OriginOld English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’.
Idioms Most idioms containing play are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example play the game is at game.
have money, time, etc. to play with
- (informal) to have plenty of money, time, etc. for doing something
play with yourself
- (informal) to masturbate
what is somebody playing at?
- used to ask in an angry way about what somebody is doing
- What do you think you are playing at?