English Reference

Word

player

Phoneticsplay·er, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈpɫeɪɝ/

UK/plˈeɪɐ/

Definitions

01sports/games

A1 · Beginner Countable noun Sports

n. a person who takes part in a sport or a game.

n. a participant in a sport, game, or athletic competition.

“The tennis player shook hands with her opponent after the final match.”

“The coach decided to substitute the star player in the second half to prevent further injury before the championship game.”

Antonyms

02music

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Music

n. someone who plays a musical instrument.

n. a musician who performs on a specific instrument.

“She is a talented piano player who performs at the local jazz club.”

“The orchestra is looking for a skilled horn player to fill the vacancy left by the retiring principal soloist.”

Synonyms

musicianinstrumentalist

03acting

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Theater Literary

n. an actor in a play or movie.

n. a performer in a theatrical production or film; often used in historical or formal contexts.

“The players took a bow as the curtain fell on the final act.”

“Shakespeare famously wrote that all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

Synonyms

actorperformerthespian

04media device

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Computing

n. a machine or software used to play music, videos, or films.

n. an electronic device or software application designed to reproduce recorded audio or video media.

“I need to buy a new DVD player because the old one stopped working.”

“The latest software update for the media player includes support for high-definition audio formats and improved subtitle rendering.”

05influential person

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic

n. a person or company that has a lot of power or influence in a particular area.

n. an individual or entity that exercises significant influence or power within a specific sphere of activity.

“Our company is becoming a major player in the renewable energy market.”

“Diplomatic analysts suggest that the small nation has emerged as a key player in regional security negotiations.”

06romance/dating

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · Slang

n. someone who has many romantic relationships at the same time and is not serious about them.

n. a person who habitually pursues multiple romantic or sexual partners without seeking a committed relationship.

“He has a reputation for being a player, so she decided not to date him.”

“The protagonist of the novel is a self-confessed player who eventually learns the value of emotional vulnerability and commitment.”

Synonyms

womanizerphilanderercasanova

Usage

Commonly used in compound nouns to specify a role, such as 'tennis player' or 'DVD player'.

Pitfall

He is a good play.

He is a good player.

Learners sometimes use the verb or the abstract noun 'play' when referring to the person performing the action.

Word family

NOUN

Player(A1)

Idioms

Domains

ComputingElectronicsGamblingMusicTheater

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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English Reference