PLAY Synonyms: 313 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'play' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of play are fun , game , jest , and sport . While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief. // pretended to strangle his brother in play

Q: In what contexts can 'fun' take the place of 'play'?

While the synonyms fun and play are close in meaning, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose. // played cards just for fun

Q: How do 'game' and 'sport' relate to one another, in the sense of 'play'?

Game is close to sport , and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun. // made game of their poor relations

Q: When can 'jest' be used instead of 'play'?

While in some cases nearly identical to play , jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing. // hurt by remarks said only in jest

Q: When would 'sport' be a good substitute for 'play'?

Although the words sport and play have much in common, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone. // teasing begun in sport led to anger

play 1 of 2

verb

Definition of play next

as in to recreate

to engage in activity for amusement told her son that he needed some time to run and play in the yard after his hard work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to perform

to present a portrayal or performance of played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic

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as in to pose (as)

to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior stop playing the innocent, because I know that you were behind that prank

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as in to lounge

to spend time in aimless activity just played around while we waited for the bus to arrive

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as in to manipulate

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently this is how we're going to play the situation

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as in to put

to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event figuring that she had little to lose, she played her last few bucks on the state lottery

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play

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noun

ˈplā

as in relaxation

activity engaged in to amuse oneself it's such a delight to watch the children in their play

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as in drama

a written work in which the story is told through speech and action that is intended to be acted out on stage we'll be putting on a school play using that stage

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as in game

an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously I didn't mean to insult anyone, for it was all just play

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as in use

the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the host's sense of humor was obviously in play during the awards ceremony

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as in ruse

a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end the guy at the bar made an unusually creative play to get her phone number

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun play differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of play are fun, game, jest, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

In what contexts can fun take the place of play?

While the synonyms fun and play are close in meaning, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How do game and sport relate to one another, in the sense of play?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When can jest be used instead of play?

While in some cases nearly identical to play, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When would sport be a good substitute for play?

Although the words sport and play have much in common, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of play

Verb

The episode with Parker Young, playing a CIA operative dating Maggie, came the closest to having a plot that built to something properly farcical. —

Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025 For me, the best music to write by consists of Haydn’s 104 symphonies played in order. —

Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

Noun

Hamlet, famously, vows revenge on his uncle, Claudius, for the murder of his father—but then he dithers, delays, and generally goes crazy, only killing Claudius at the very end of Shakespeare’s longest play. —

Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2024 At the end of the play, Jerry Rafshoon and I were called up on the stage along with the actors and the Carters. —

Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for play

Recent Examples of Synonyms for play

Verb

Six other teams also performed worse at home than on the road, including two home teams this playoff weekend: the Baltimore Ravens (hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night) and the Houston Texans (hosting the Los Angeles Chargers to kick off the playoff slate).

Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Legendary actor Harrison Ford eats there on his trips to Wichita when his maintenance performed on his plane, per a Wichita Eagle story.

Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2025