play, v.
(played, playing, plays)
freq. cnt. 246
(played, playing, plays)
freq. cnt. 246
participate in games or sport
<verb.competition> freq. cnt.: 70 freq. cnt.: 70
play
sample sentences
"We played hockey all afternoon""play cards"
"Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s something
semantic pointers
hypernym
hyponym
line up
curl
snooker
revoke
develop
develop
die
misplay
start
fumble
volley
unblock
replay
cricket
backstop
fullback
quarterback
cradle
exit
play out
field
catch
face off, bully off
tee off
ace
complete, nail
gamble
walk
bowl
golf
bandy
foul
put out
croquet
putt
teeter-totter, teetertotter, seesaw
bid, call
verb group
act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome
<verb.social> freq. cnt.: 37 freq. cnt.: 37
play
sample sentences
"This factor played only a minor part in his decision""This development played into her hands"
"I played no role in your dismissal"
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomething ----s something
play on an instrument
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 29 freq. cnt.: 29
play
sample sentences
"The band played all night long"verb frames
Something ----sSomebody ----s
semantic pointers
domain of synset (topic)
hyponym
hypernym
verb group
play a role or part
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 35 freq. cnt.: 27 freq. cnt.: 7 freq. cnt.: 1
act play represent
sample sentences
"Gielgud played Hamlet""She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"
"She played the servant to her husband's master"
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
domain of synset (topic)
verb group
hyponym
make, pretend, make believe
support
enact, act out, reenact
act out
impersonate, portray
parody
emote
hypernym
be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children
<verb.social> freq. cnt.: 23 freq. cnt.: 23
play
sample sentences
"The kids were playing outside all day""I used to play with trucks as a little girl"
verb frames
Somebody ----s
semantic pointers
hyponym
roughhouse
fool around, horse around, arse around, fool
cavort, run around, romp, frolic, skylark, lark, rollick, disport, sport, gambol, frisk, lark about
dabble, paddle, splash around
verb group
hypernym
replay (as a melody)
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 14 freq. cnt.: 14
play spiel
sample sentences
"Play it again, Sam""She played the third movement very beautifully"
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingThey will %s the duet
verb frames
Somebody ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
perform music on (a musical instrument)
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 8 freq. cnt.: 8
play
sample sentences
"He plays the flute""Can you play on this old recorder?"
verb frames
Somebody ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
<verb.body> freq. cnt.: 7 freq. cnt.: 6 freq. cnt.: 1
act act as play
sample sentences
"He acted the idiot""She plays deaf when the news are bad"
verb frames
Somebody ----s somebodyverb frames
Somebody ----s somebodyverb frames
Somebody ----s somebody
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
bet or wager (money)
<verb.competition> freq. cnt.: 5 freq. cnt.: 5
play
sample sentences
"He played $20 on the new horse""She plays the races"
verb frames
Somebody ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly
<verb.motion> freq. cnt.: 5 freq. cnt.: 5
play
sample sentences
"The spotlights played on the politicians"verb frames
Something is ----ing PP
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
hypernym
pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 4 freq. cnt.: 4
play
sample sentences
"Let's play like I am mommy""Play cowboy and Indians"
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion
<verb.social> freq. cnt.: 4 freq. cnt.: 4
play recreate
sample sentences
"On weekends I play""The students all recreate alike"
verb frames
Somebody ----sverb frames
Somebody ----s
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
verb group
emit recorded sound
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 3 freq. cnt.: 3
play
sample sentences
"The tape was playing for hours""the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
verb frames
Something ----sSomething ----s something
engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously
<verb.body> freq. cnt.: 2 freq. cnt.: 2
play toy
sample sentences
"They played games on their opponents""play the stock market"
"play with her feelings"
"toy with an idea"
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingverb frames
Somebody ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
hypernym
put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game
<verb.competition> freq. cnt.: 2 freq. cnt.: 2
play
sample sentences
"He is playing his cards close to his chest""The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"
verb frames
Somebody ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
perform on a certain location
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 2 freq. cnt.: 2
play
sample sentences
"The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16""She has been playing on Broadway for years"
verb frames
Somebody ----s something
semantic pointers
domain of synset (topic)
hypernym
verb group
consider not very seriously
<verb.cognition> freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1
dally play trifle
sample sentences
"He is trifling with her""She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"
verb frames
Somebody ----s PPSam wants to %s with Sue
verb frames
Somebody ----s PPSam wants to %s with Sue
verb frames
Somebody ----s PPSam wants to %s with Sue
use to one's advantage
<verb.consumption> freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1
play
sample sentences
"She plays on her clients' emotions"verb frames
Somebody ----s PP
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
hypernym
manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination
<verb.contact> freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1
diddle fiddle play toy
sample sentences
"She played nervously with her wedding ring""Don't fiddle with the screws"
"He played with the idea of running for the Senate"
verb frames
Somebody ----s PPverb frames
Somebody ----s PPverb frames
Somebody ----s PPverb frames
Somebody ----s PP
lexical pointers
also see
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
cause to emit recorded audio or video
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 6 freq. cnt.: 5 freq. cnt.: 1
play run
sample sentences
"They ran the tapes over and over again""I'll play you my favorite record"
"He never tires of playing that video"
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomething ----s something
Sam and Sue %s the movie
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomething ----s something
Sam and Sue %s the movie
semantic pointers
verb group
behave in a certain way
<verb.social> freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1
play
sample sentences
"play safe""play it safe"
"play fair"
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomething ----s something Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective
exhaust by allowing to pull on the line
<verb.body>
play
sample sentences
"play a hooked fish"verb frames
Somebody ----s something
semantic pointers
hypernym
contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle
<verb.competition> freq. cnt.: 10 freq. cnt.: 8 freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1
encounter meet play take on
sample sentences
"Princeton plays Yale this weekend""Charlie likes to play Mary"
verb frames
Somebody ----s somebodySam and Sue %s
Sam cannot %s Sue
verb frames
Somebody ----s somebodyverb frames
Somebody ----s somebodyverb frames
Somebody ----s somebodySam and Sue %s
Sam cannot %s Sue
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
verb group
hyponym
entailment
employ in a game or in a specific position
<verb.competition>
play
sample sentences
"They played him on first base"verb frames
Somebody ----s somebody
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
verb group
hypernym
use or move
<verb.competition>
play
sample sentences
"I had to play my queen"verb frames
Somebody ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
verb group
hypernym
hyponym
shoot or hit in a particular manner
<verb.competition>
play
sample sentences
"She played a good backhand last night"verb frames
Somebody ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
stake on the outcome of an issue
<verb.competition>
bet play wager
sample sentences
"I bet $100 on that new horse""She played all her money on the dark horse"
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s something
They %s the money
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s something
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
make bets
<verb.competition>
play
sample sentences
"Play the races""play the casinos in Trouville"
verb frames
Somebody ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream
<verb.contact>
play
sample sentences
"play water from a hose""The fountains played all day"
verb frames
Something ----sSomebody ----s something
semantic pointers
hypernym
cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 48 freq. cnt.: 31 freq. cnt.: 13 freq. cnt.: 3 freq. cnt.: 1
bring make for play work wreak
sample sentences
"I cannot work a miracle""wreak havoc"
"bring comments"
"play a joke"
"The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area"
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomething ----s something
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomething ----s something
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomething ----s something
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomething ----s something
verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomething ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
be performed or presented for public viewing
<verb.creation>
play
sample sentences
"What's playing in the local movie theater?""`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"
verb frames
Something ----sSomething is ----ing PP
semantic pointers
domain of synset (topic)
hyponym
verb group
perform on a stage or theater
<verb.creation> freq. cnt.: 1 freq. cnt.: 1
act play playact roleplay
sample sentences
"She acts in this play""He acted in `Julius Caesar'"
"I played in `A Christmas Carol'"
verb frames
Somebody ----sverb frames
Somebody ----sverb frames
Somebody ----sverb frames
Somebody ----s
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
domain of synset (topic)
hypernym
verb group
hyponym
cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space
<verb.motion>
play
sample sentences
"The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"verb frames
Somebody ----s somethingSomething ----s something
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
semantic pointers
hypernym
behave carelessly or indifferently
<verb.social>
dally flirt play toy
sample sentences
"Play about with a young girl's affection"verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s PP
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s PP
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s PP
verb frames
Somebody ----sSomebody ----s PP
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
lexical pointers
derivationally related form
be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way
<verb.stative>
play
sample sentences
"This speech didn't play well with the American public""His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"