Play: meaning, definitions and examples
🎮
play
[ pleɪ ]
game
Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- We played a board game after dinner.
- The kids are playing in the yard.
theater
A dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The local theater group put on a play last weekend.
- Shakespeare's plays are still performed around the world.
music
A piece of music, especially one of a set forming a program.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She performed a beautiful piano play at the concert.
- The symphony orchestra played Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
Translations
Translations of the word "play" in other languages:
🇵🇹 jogar
- tocar
- brincar
- peça (teatral)
🇮🇳 खेलना
- बजाना
- अभिनय करना
🇩🇪 spielen
- abspielen
- Theaterstück
🇮🇩 bermain
- memutar
- lakon
🇺🇦 грати
- відтворювати
- п'єса
🇵🇱 grać
- odtwarzać
- sztuka teatralna
🇯🇵 遊ぶ (asobu)
- 演奏する (ensō suru)
- 劇 (geki)
🇫🇷 jouer
- interpréter
- pièce de théâtre
🇪🇸 jugar
- tocar
- obra de teatro
🇹🇷 oynamak
- çalmak
- tiyatro oyunu
🇰🇷 놀다 (nolda)
- 연주하다 (yeonju hada)
- 연극 (yeongeuk)
🇸🇦 لعب
- عزف
- مسرحية
🇨🇿 hrát
- přehrávat
- divadelní hra
🇸🇰 hrať
- prehrávať
- divadelná hra
🇨🇳 玩 (wán)
- 演奏 (yǎnzòu)
- 戏剧 (xìjù)
🇸🇮 igrati
- predvajati
- gledališka igra
🇮🇸 leika
- spila
- leikrit
🇰🇿 ойнау
- ойнау (музыка)
- пьеса
🇬🇪 ითამაშო
- დაუკრა
- პიესა
🇦🇿 oynamaq
- ifa etmək
- teatr əsəri
🇲🇽 jugar
- tocar
- obra de teatro
Etymology
The word 'play' originated from the Old English word 'pleg(i)an', which means 'to exercise, frolic, or move rapidly'. Over time, it evolved to encompass various meanings related to activities for enjoyment, such as games, theater performances, and music compositions. The concept of 'play' has been essential in human culture as a form of entertainment and expression.
See also: downplay, interplay, misplay, outplay, outplayed, overplay, playback, playboy, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness, playground, playhouse, playing, playlist, playoff, plays, plaything, playtime, playwright, playwrights, teleplay.