gameplay

noun

game·​play ˈgām-ˌplā How to pronounce gameplay (audio)
variants or game play
plural gameplays or game plays
1
: the characteristic way in which the action of a game (such as a video game) occurs or is experienced
Each game is cleanly done with smooth gameplay and colorful graphics.Joe Hindy
Featuring intuitive and addictive gameplay, the game is a lovely distraction from the troubles of the day.Amy Davidson
The unique game play led to players adopting all sorts of interesting strategies for getting a high score.Jeff Fulton and Steve Fulton
2
: the practice or activity of playing games (such as board games, card games, or video games) : gaming sense 2
Unlike the vast majority of previous studies on the effect of video games on wellbeing, the Oxford team were able to track actual gameplay, rather than relying on self-reported estimates.Alex Hern
While not all card shufflers operate more quickly than manual shuffling, in general, a card shuffler speeds up gameplay.Allen Foster
… a gaming chair that also massages your back, features an adjustable headrest and has an ergonomic design that allows for hours and hours of game play.Heather Quinlan

Examples of gameplay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Nintendo released its Wii platform in North America, allowing gameplay through traditional controls or motion sensing controls. 2007: Amazon started selling the Kindle, an electronic reader. Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 19 Nov. 2024 Gaming performance is solid and the 15.6-inch display renders gameplay in crisp 1080p. Jade Chung-Lee, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024 This revelation sped up gameplay as the correct cards were whittled down much more quickly during play. Rob Wieland, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 Again, the bigger the group, the more dynamics at play, which means more potentially explosive gameplay. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gameplay 

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of gameplay was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near gameplay

Cite this Entry

“Gameplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gameplay. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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