Synonyms for play

Synonyms for (noun) play

Synonyms: play, swordplay

Definition: the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully

Similar words: action

Definition: something done (usually as opposed to something said)

Usage: there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions


Synonyms: gambling, gaming, play

Definition: the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)

Usage: his gambling cost him a fortune; there was heavy play at the blackjack table

Similar words: diversion, recreation

Definition: an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates

Usage: scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists; for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles; drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation


Similar words: vice

Definition: a specific form of evildoing

Usage: vice offends the moral standards of the community


Synonyms: child's play, play

Definition: activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules

Usage: Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child

Similar words: diversion, recreation

Definition: an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates

Usage: scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists; for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles; drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation


Synonyms: play, turn

Definition: (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession

Usage: it is my turn; it is still my play

Similar words: activity

Definition: any specific behavior

Usage: they avoided all recreational activity


Synonyms: caper, frolic, gambol, romp, play

Definition: gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement

Usage: it was all done in play; their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly

Similar words: diversion, recreation

Definition: an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates

Usage: scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists; for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles; drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation


Synonyms: maneuver, manoeuvre, play

Definition: a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill

Usage: he made a great maneuver; the runner was out on a play by the shortstop

Similar words: motion, move, movement

Definition: the act of changing location from one place to another

Usage: police controlled the motion of the crowd; the movement of people from the farms to the cities; his move put him directly in my path


Synonyms: play

Definition: a preset plan of action in team sports

Usage: the coach drew up the plays for her team

Similar words: plan of action

Definition: a plan for actively doing something


Synonyms: bid, play

Definition: an attempt to get something

Usage: they made a futile play for power; he made a bid to gain attention

Similar words: endeavor, endeavour, effort, try, attempt

Definition: earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

Usage: made an effort to cover all the reading material; wished him luck in his endeavor; she gave it a good try


Synonyms: play

Definition: utilization or exercise

Usage: the play of the imagination

Similar words: usage, use, utilisation, utilization, employment, exercise

Definition: the act of using

Usage: he warned against the use of narcotic drugs; skilled in the utilization of computers


Synonyms: looseness, play

Definition: movement or space for movement

Usage: there was too much play in the steering wheel

Similar words: movability, movableness

Definition: the quality of being movable; capable of being moved or rearranged


Synonyms: sport, play, fun

Definition: verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously)

Usage: he became a figure of fun; he said it in sport

Similar words: wit, witticism, wittiness, humor, humour

Definition: a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter


Synonyms: drama, dramatic play, play

Definition: a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

Usage: he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway

Similar words: dramatic composition, dramatic work

Definition: a play for performance on the stage or television or in a movie etc.


Synonyms: play

Definition: a theatrical performance of a drama

Usage: the play lasted two hours

Similar words: show

Definition: a social event involving a public performance or entertainment

Usage: they wanted to see some of the shows on Broadway


Synonyms: shimmer, play

Definition: a weak and tremulous light

Usage: the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers; the play of light on the water

Similar words: change, modification, alteration

Definition: an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

Usage: the change was intended to increase sales; this storm is certainly a change for the worse; the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago


Synonyms: free rein, play

Definition: the removal of constraints

Usage: he gave free rein to his impulses; they gave full play to the artist's talent

Similar words: freedom

Definition: the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints


Synonyms: play

Definition: a state in which action is feasible

Usage: the ball was still in play; insiders said the company's stock was in play

Similar words: action, activeness, activity

Definition: the state of being active

Usage: his sphere of activity; he is out of action


Synonyms: period of play, play, playing period

Definition: (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds

Usage: rain stopped play in the 4th inning

Similar words: quantity, measure, amount

Definition: how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify


Synonyms for (verb) play

Synonyms: play, toy

Definition: engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously

Usage: They played games on their opponents; play the stock market; play with her feelings; toy with an idea

Similar words: act, behave, do

Definition: behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

Usage: You should act like an adult; Don't behave like a fool; What makes her do this way?; The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people


Synonyms: play, act, act as

Definition: pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind

Usage: He acted the idiot; She plays deaf when the news are bad

Similar words: act, behave, do

Definition: behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

Usage: You should act like an adult; Don't behave like a fool; What makes her do this way?; The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people


Synonyms: play

Definition: exhaust by allowing to pull on the line

Usage: play a hooked fish

Similar words: wash up, exhaust, beat, tucker, tucker out

Definition: wear out completely

Usage: This kind of work exhausts me; I'm beat; He was all washed up after the exam


Synonyms: trifle, dally, play

Definition: consider not very seriously

Usage: He is trifling with her; She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania

Similar words: take, look at, consider, deal

Definition: take into consideration for exemplifying purposes

Usage: Take the case of China; Consider the following case


Synonyms: play

Definition: participate in games or sport

Usage: We played hockey all afternoon; play cards; Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches

Similar words: contend, vie, compete

Definition: compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others


Synonyms: play

Definition: employ in a game or in a specific position

Usage: They played him on first base

Similar words: use, utilise, utilize, employ, apply

Definition: put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

Usage: use your head!; we only use Spanish at home; I can't use this tool; Apply a magnetic field here; This thinking was applied to many projects; How do you utilize this tool?; I apply this rule to get good results; use the plastic bags to store the food; He doesn't know how to use a computer


Synonyms: play

Definition: use or move

Usage: I had to play my queen

Similar words: use, utilise, utilize, employ, apply

Definition: put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

Usage: use your head!; we only use Spanish at home; I can't use this tool; Apply a magnetic field here; This thinking was applied to many projects; How do you utilize this tool?; I apply this rule to get good results; use the plastic bags to store the food; He doesn't know how to use a computer


Synonyms: play

Definition: shoot or hit in a particular manner

Usage: She played a good backhand last night

Similar words: hit

Definition: cause to move by striking

Usage: hit a ball


Synonyms: play

Definition: bet or wager (money)

Usage: He played $20 on the new horse; She plays the races

Similar words: gamble

Definition: play games for money


Synonyms: play

Definition: put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game

Usage: He is playing his cards close to his chest; The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory

Similar words: deploy

Definition: place troops or weapons in battle formation


Synonyms: play, bet, wager

Definition: stake on the outcome of an issue

Usage: I bet $100 on that new horse; She played all her money on the dark horse

Similar words: gamble

Definition: play games for money


Synonyms: play

Definition: make bets

Usage: Play the races; play the casinos in Trouville

Similar words: play, bet, wager

Definition: stake on the outcome of an issue

Usage: I bet $100 on that new horse; She played all her money on the dark horse


Synonyms: play

Definition: use to one's advantage

Usage: She plays on her clients' emotions

Similar words: work, exploit

Definition: use or manipulate to one's advantage

Usage: He exploit the new taxation system; She knows how to work the system; he works his parents for sympathy


Synonyms: play

Definition: discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream

Usage: play water from a hose; The fountains played all day

Similar words: discharge

Definition: pour forth or release

Usage: discharge liquids


Synonyms: fiddle, diddle, play, toy

Definition: manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination

Usage: She played nervously with her wedding ring; Don't fiddle with the screws; He played with the idea of running for the Senate

Similar words: manipulate

Definition: hold something in one's hands and move it


Synonyms: work, wreak, make for, play, bring

Definition: cause to happen or to occur as a consequence

Usage: I cannot work a miracle; wreak havoc; bring comments; play a joke; The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area

Similar words: make, create

Definition: make or cause to be or to become

Usage: make a mess in one's office; create a furor


Synonyms: play

Definition: perform on a certain location

Usage: The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16; She has been playing on Broadway for years

Similar words: perform

Definition: give a performance (of something)

Usage: Horowitz is performing at Carnegie Hall tonight; We performed a popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera


Synonyms: play

Definition: emit recorded sound

Usage: The tape was playing for hours; the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered

Similar words: sound

Definition: give off a certain sound or sounds

Usage: This record sounds scratchy


Synonyms: represent, play, act

Definition: play a role or part

Usage: 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

Similar words: re-create

Definition: create anew

Usage: Re-create the boom of the West on a small scale


Synonyms: act, play, playact, roleplay

Definition: perform on a stage or theater

Usage: She acts in this play; He acted in `Julius Caesar'; I played in `A Christmas Carol'

Similar words: perform

Definition: give a performance (of something)

Usage: Horowitz is performing at Carnegie Hall tonight; We performed a popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera


Synonyms: play

Definition: pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity

Usage: Let's play like I am mommy; Play cowboy and Indians

Similar words: assume, sham, simulate, feign

Definition: make a pretence of

Usage: She assumed indifference, even though she was seething with anger; he feigned sleep


Synonyms: play, spiel

Definition: replay (as a melody)

Usage: Play it again, Sam; She played the third movement very beautifully

Similar words: re-create

Definition: create anew

Usage: Re-create the boom of the West on a small scale


Synonyms: play

Definition: play on an instrument

Usage: The band played all night long

Similar words: perform

Definition: give a performance (of something)

Usage: Horowitz is performing at Carnegie Hall tonight; We performed a popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera


Synonyms: play

Definition: perform music on (a musical instrument)

Usage: He plays the flute; Can you play on this old recorder?

Similar words: sound

Definition: cause to sound

Usage: sound the bell; sound a certain note


Synonyms: play

Definition: move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly

Usage: The spotlights played on the politicians

Similar words: go, locomote, travel, move

Definition: change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

Usage: How fast does your new car go?; We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus; The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect; The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell; news travelled fast


Synonyms: play

Definition: cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space

Usage: The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack

Similar words: displace, move

Definition: cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense

Usage: Move those boxes into the corner, please; I'm moving my money to another bank; The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant


Synonyms: play

Definition: act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome

Usage: This factor played only a minor part in his decision; This development played into her hands; I played no role in your dismissal

Similar words: move, act

Definition: perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

Usage: think before you act; We must move quickly; The governor should act on the new energy bill; The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel


Synonyms: play

Definition: be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children

Usage: The kids were playing outside all day; I used to play with trucks as a little girl

Similar words: act

Definition: be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure


Synonyms: dally, toy, flirt, play

Definition: behave carelessly or indifferently

Usage: Play about with a young girl's affection

Similar words: move, act

Definition: perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

Usage: think before you act; We must move quickly; The governor should act on the new energy bill; The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel


Synonyms: play

Definition: behave in a certain way

Usage: play safe; play it safe; play fair

Similar words: move, act

Definition: perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

Usage: think before you act; We must move quickly; The governor should act on the new energy bill; The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel


Visual thesaurus for play