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.
Belinda and Greg Greg mostly tries to stay out of the way as his obscenely large yacht plays host to a mix of his fellow LBHs and Chloe’s various guests. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025 Las Vegas recently played host to a unique event: The World’s Hottest Menopause Party. Jane Hanson, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025 Fairmont Prep plays host to Windward in the semifinals on Saturday. Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2025 Up next On the final weekend of the regular season, Maryland plays host to Northwestern on Saturday, and Michigan plays at Michigan State on Sunday. Larry Lage, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 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 27 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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