# play /ˈpɫeɪ/ (US) · /plˈeɪ/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/play Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. to have fun verb · CEFR A1 to do something for fun or enjoyment, especially for children. For teachers: to engage in activity for recreation or amusement rather than for a serious or practical purpose. - The children were playing in the garden with their new toys. - The kittens spent the entire afternoon playing with a ball of yarn, practicing the pouncing skills they would later need for hunting. ### 2. to participate in a sport verb · CEFR A1 to take part in a game or sport. For teachers: to participate in a competitive game or exercise; transitive when followed by the name of the sport. - We usually play tennis on Saturday mornings if the weather is good. - He has played professional basketball for over a decade, earning several championship rings during his tenure with the city's primary team. ### 3. to perform music verb · CEFR A1 to make music with an instrument like a piano or guitar. For teachers: to produce music by manual or mechanical operation of an instrument. - She started to play the piano when she was only five years old. - The orchestra began to play the symphony with such precision that the audience remained perfectly silent until the final note faded. ### 4. to act a role verb · CEFR B1 to act as a character in a movie or a show. For teachers: to represent a character in a theatrical or cinematic performance. - He is going to play the hero in the school's end-of-year show. - The actress was chosen to play the lead role because of her unique ability to convey complex emotions through subtle facial expressions. ### 5. to start media verb · CEFR A2 to make a video or song start so you can watch or hear it. For teachers: to cause a recorded medium to emit its content. - Can you play that song again? I really like the lyrics. - The software is designed to play high-definition video files without stuttering, even on older hardware configurations. ### 6. to trick someone verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang to trick or deceive someone for your own advantage. For teachers: to manipulate or deceive a person for personal gain or amusement. - I realized too late that he was just playing me to get the money. - The con artist had been playing the investors for months, providing them with fraudulent documents to hide the fact that their money was gone. ### 7. theatrical show noun · CEFR A2 a story that is written for actors to perform on a stage. For teachers: a dramatic composition or performance intended for the stage. - We went to see a Shakespeare play at the local theatre last night. - The new play received rave reviews from critics, who praised the innovative staging and the powerful dialogue between the two main characters. ### 8. recreation noun · CEFR A2 time spent having fun or being active, especially for children. For teachers: activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children. - The teacher told the students that it was time for play. - Child psychologists emphasize that unstructured play is essential for the cognitive and social development of young children. ### 9. freedom of movement noun · CEFR C1 · Technical the amount of space something has to move within a machine or part. For teachers: the amount of space for movement allowed by a mechanism; physical tolerance or slack. - There is too much play in the steering wheel, so it feels loose. - The engineer adjusted the gears to reduce the play, ensuring that the mechanical arm would move with greater precision during the assembly process. ### 10. a specific move noun · CEFR B2 a specific action or plan in a game or business. For teachers: a calculated move or maneuver in a game, sport, or strategic situation. - That was a clever play to win the game in the final minute. - The company's acquisition of the smaller startup was seen as a strategic play to dominate the emerging green energy market. ## Examples - Children learn through play. - The school believes in a balance between work and play. - The design philosophy emphasizes a sense of play, encouraging users to experiment with features without fear of making permanent mistakes. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.