Playful: meaning, definitions and examples

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playful

 

[ หˆpleษชf(ษ™)l ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

behavior

Full of fun and high spirits; lively and amusing.

Synonyms

amusing, fun, lively.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
playful

Another use of 'playful' which often overlaps with the first context but can specifically describe actions that are not serious and done in a spirit of fun.

  • He gave her a playful wink.
  • They engaged in playful banter during the meeting.
lively

Best for describing something or someone full of energy, enthusiasm, or activity.

  • The market was lively, with vendors calling out to customers.
  • She has such a lively personality; she's always the life of the party.
amusing

Used when something is entertaining or funny, causing laughter or enjoyment.

  • The comedian's performance was very amusing.
  • She found the story of his misadventures quite amusing.
fun

Suitable for describing activities or experiences that are enjoyable and pleasant.

  • We had a lot of fun at the amusement park.
  • Playing video games with friends is always fun.

Examples of usage

  • He had a playful sense of humor.
  • The children were being playful in the park.
  • She was feeling playful and mischievous.
Context #2 | Adjective

style

Having a tendency to play around or have fun; not serious.

Synonyms

cheerful, frivolous, jovial.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
playful

Appropriate when describing someone who is light-hearted and enjoys playful activities. Commonly used when talking about children, animals, or adults in a fun, informal setting.

  • The puppy was very playful, chasing its tail around all afternoon
  • During the picnic, everyone was in a playful mood, playing games and laughing
frivolous

Used to describe actions or behaviors that are carefree but can also imply a lack of seriousness or importance. It often has a negative connotation.

  • He spent his money on frivolous purchases, like expensive gadgets he didn't need
  • The meeting was disrupted by frivolous comments that had nothing to do with the main topic
jovial

Best used when describing someone who is in a good spirits and spreads joy to others. Often used in social settings and around festivities.

  • He was in a jovial mood at the party, telling jokes and making everyone laugh
  • Her jovial personality makes her the life of every gathering
cheerful

Ideal for situations where someone is happy and visibly in a good mood. It can be used in both social and professional settings.

  • The teacher's cheerful attitude made the students look forward to her classes
  • Despite the bad weather, she remained cheerful and optimistic

Examples of usage

  • She had a playful attitude towards life.
  • The design of the room had a playful touch to it.

Translations

Translations of the word "playful" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น brincalhรฃo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค–เคฟเคฒเค‚เคฆเคกเคผ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช verspielt

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ main-main

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะณั€ะฐะนะปะธะฒะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ figlarny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้Šใณๅฟƒใฎใ‚ใ‚‹ (asobigokoro no aru)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท enjouรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ juguetรณn

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท oyuncu

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์žฅ๋‚œ๊ธฐ ์žˆ๋Š” (jangnangi inneun)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู„ุนูˆุจ (la'ib)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hravรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ hravรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้กฝ็šฎ็š„ (wรกnpรญ de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ igriv

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ leikfullur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะพะนะฝะฐา›ั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ—แƒแƒ›แƒแƒ›แƒ˜ (tamami)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ oynaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ juguetรณn

Etymology

The word 'playful' originated from the Middle English word 'pleyful', which was derived from the Old English word 'plegan' meaning 'to play'. The sense of 'full of fun and high spirits' emerged in the 16th century. Over time, 'playful' has come to represent a sense of joy, amusement, and light-heartedness.

See also: downplay, interplay, misplay, outplay, outplayed, overplay, play, playback, playboy, player, players, playfully, playfulness, playground, playhouse, playing, playlist, playoff, plays, plaything, playtime, playwright, playwrights, teleplay.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,225, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.