Antonyms for play
| Grammar : Noun, verb |
| Spell : pley |
| Phonetic Transcription : pleɪ |
Definition of play
Origin :- Old English plegan, plegian "move rapidly, occupy or busy oneself, exercise; frolic; make sport of, mock; perform music," from West Germanic *plegan "occupy oneself about" (cf. Old Saxon plegan "vouch for, take charge of," Old Frisian plega "tend to," Middle Dutch pleyen "to rejoice, be glad," German pflegen "take care of, cultivate"), from PIE root *dlegh- "to engage oneself," forming words in Celtic, Germanic, Slavic, and possibly Latin.
- Meaning "to take part in a game" is from c.1200. Opposed to work (v.) since late 14c. Related: Played; playing. To play up "emphasize" is from 1909; to play down "minimize" is from 1930; to play along "cooperate" is from 1929. To play with oneself "masturbate" is from 1896; play for keeps is from 1861, originally of marbles or other children's games with tokens. To play second fiddle in the figurative sense is from 1809 ("Gil Blas"). To play into the hands (of someone) is from 1705. To play the _______ card is attested from 1886; to play fair is from mid-15c. To play (something) safe is from 1911; to play favorites is attested from 1902. For play the field see field (n.).
- noun theater piece
- noun amusement, entertainment
- noun latitude, range
- verb have fun
- verb compete in sport
- verb act; take the part of
- verb gamble, risk
- verb produce music
- To play upon the silver-voiced flute is Theban-like and vulgar.
- Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
- I'd play that fur the heftiest moral courage I've ever showed, anyway.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- Or, you goin' to get her a stack of every colour and let her play with you?
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- He stood in deep shadow and the girl had been too absorbed in the play to note his coming.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- He cries a minute, then forgets all about it, and grabs up something else to play with.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- Their work seemed like play, while the play around them seemed like work.
- Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
- Of course, we all like to play with fire, but I always put it out before it can spread.
- Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
- And there is another area where the Federal Government can play a part.
- Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various
- By this engine, whose springs I am continually oiling, I play them all off.
- Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
- She was not in the least surprised at not being invited by Evelyn to play chaperon.
- Extract from : « Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus » by Jessie Graham Flower
Synonyms for play
- act the part of
- action
- activity
- amuse oneself
- be life of party
- be on a team
- bet
- blow
- bow
- caper
- carouse
- carry on
- cavort
- challenge
- chance
- clown
- comedy
- contend
- contest
- curtain-raiser
- cut capers
- cut up
- dalliance
- dally
- dance
- delight
- discourse
- disport
- diversion
- divert
- do
- drama
- drum
- elbowroom
- enact
- engage in
- entertain oneself
- entertainment
- execute
- exercise
- exploit
- farce
- fiddle
- fidget
- finesse
- finger
- flop
- fool around
- foolery
- frisk
- frolic
- fun
- gambol
- game
- gaming
- give
- go on a spree
- ham
- ham it up
- happiness
- hazard
- hit
- horse around
- humor
- idle away
- impersonate
- jest
- jockey
- joke
- joking
- jump
- kibitz
- kick up heels
- lark
- lay an egg
- lay money on
- leeway
- let go
- let loose
- let one's hair down
- make merry
- maneuver
- manipulate
- margin
- mask
- match
- mess around
- motion
- movement
- musical
- one-act
- opera
- operate
- operation
- participate
- pastime
- pedal
- perform
- performance
- personate
- play a gig
- playact
- pleasure
- portray
- potboiler
- prank
- present
- put
- read a part
- recreate
- recreation
- rejoice
- relaxation
- render
- represent
- revel
- rival
- romp
- room
- scope
- set
- show
- show off
- skip
- smash
- smash hit
- space
- speculate
- sport
- sportiveness
- stage show
- stake
- sweep
- swing
- take
- take on
- take part
- take the role of
- teasing
- theatrical
- tickle
- toy
- tragedy
- tread the boards
- trifle
- turkey
- vie
- wager
- work
- working
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019