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
Ira SilverSt. 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
Jon DrapeThe grasslands play host to [=provide a home for] long-billed curlews and sage grouse, and eagles, osprey and coyotes scavenge the area.—Kay Clark
Kay ClarkExamples of play host to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Kansas Jayhawks will play host to Iowa State in an ESPN Big Monday game at Allen Fieldhouse.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2025
His next chance comes when the Heat plays host to Orlando on Monday (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Sun).
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
The Chiefs play host to the Bills in the AFC title game on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. ET and are 1 1/2-point favorites to win and advance to the Super Bowl.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 24 Jan. 2025
All-Star Game history: July 6, 2007 AT&T Park played host to the 78th All-Star Game.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025
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Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2025
His next chance comes when the Heat plays host to Orlando on Monday (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Sun).
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
The Chiefs play host to the Bills in the AFC title game on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. ET and are 1 1/2-point favorites to win and advance to the Super Bowl.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 24 Jan. 2025
All-Star Game history: July 6, 2007 AT&T Park played host to the 78th All-Star Game.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for play host to
Dictionary Entries Near play host to
Cite this Entry
“Play host to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20host%20to. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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