play host to

idiomatic phrase

: to serve as a host for (someone or something)
Each year, the city plays host to the film festival for one week.
As travel to the Third World has expanded, so, too, has concern about the damage wrought by mass tourism on the people and places that play host to wandering North Americans and Europeans.Ira Silver
St. John's meets No. 3-ranked Duke and the Big East rival Miami on the road, and will play host to No. 4 Syracuse, No. 13 Connecticut and surging Seton Hall at the Garden.Jon Drape
The grasslands play host to [=provide a home for] long-billed curlews and sage grouse, and eagles, osprey and coyotes scavenge the area.Kay Clark

Examples of play host to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Dallas Cowboys play host to a Thanksgiving game every year. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025 Kerr weighed in on Brown’s dismissal before the Warriors played host to the Kings on Sunday at Chase Center in San Francisco. Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 6 Jan. 2025 No venue has played host to more Super Bowls than the Superdome. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, 3 Jan. 2025 Teddy bears flood the ice The Mavericks played host to their annual Teddy Bear Toss game against the Tulsa Oilers on Dec. 21. Ben Delaforest, Kansas City Star, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for play host to 

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of play host to was in 1837

Cite this Entry

“Play host to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20host%20to. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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