the name of the game
noun phrase
informal
: the basic goal or purpose of an activity
When all is said and done, in business, profit is the name of the game.
Examples of the name of the game in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Unfortunately, the name of the game is sending someone home every week, and this week, the singer who went home in the Barbie Dream Camper was Chess Piece.
—
Lauren Huff, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are locked in a tight battle in Arizona, a presidential battleground where razor-thin margins are the name of the game.
—Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 30 Oct. 2024
Participation is the name of the game, so do your best to put yourself out there in a networking sense.
—Rob Lancit, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
An environment like that tends to breed pettiness, and this week, that was the name of the game.
—Laura Bradley, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the name of the game 
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.
Lauren Huff, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are locked in a tight battle in Arizona, a presidential battleground where razor-thin margins are the name of the game.
—Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 30 Oct. 2024
Participation is the name of the game, so do your best to put yourself out there in a networking sense.
—Rob Lancit, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
An environment like that tends to breed pettiness, and this week, that was the name of the game.
—Laura Bradley, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the name of the game
Dictionary Entries Near the name of the game
Cite this Entry
“The name of the game.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20name%20of%20the%20game. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share