ENGLISH
REFERENCE

playful

adj.
US //ˈpɫeɪfəɫ// UK //plˈeɪfəl// play·ful
  1. 1 liking to play (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    full of energy and wanting to play, like a young child or a puppy.

    inclined to engage in play or physical activity for amusement; often used to describe animals or children.

    Example

    The playful kitten kept jumping at the shadows on the wall.

    Example

    The playful puppy spent the entire afternoon chasing its own tail across the lawn, much to the amusement of the neighbours.
  2. 2 humorous or joking (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    intended as a joke or not meant to be taken seriously.

    characterised by lighthearted humour or jesting; not intended to be serious or offensive.

    Example

    He gave her a playful push and told her she was being silly.

    Example

    Although his comments seemed critical at first, his playful tone suggested he was merely teasing his colleagues during the break.
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  1. 3 experimental or creative (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    trying new things in a fun and creative way without worrying about rules.

    marked by an experimental or non-traditional approach to a task or medium, often involving creative risk-taking.

    Example

    The artist used a playful mix of bright colours and strange shapes.

    Example

    The architect's playful design incorporated sliding boards between floors, challenging the traditional notion of a corporate office space.
Origin

From Middle English pleiful, equivalent to play + -ful.

Word family

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