playful
- 01 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.
Simple“The playful kitten kept jumping at the shadows on the wall.”
In context“The playful puppy spent the entire afternoon chasing its own tail across the lawn, much to the amusement of the neighbours.”
- 02 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.
Simple“He gave her a playful push and told her she was being silly.”
In context“Although his comments seemed critical at first, his playful tone suggested he was merely teasing his colleagues during the break.”
Synonyms - 03 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.
Simple“The artist used a playful mix of bright colours and strange shapes.”
In context“The architect's playful design incorporated sliding boards between floors, challenging the traditional notion of a corporate office space.”
SynonymsAntonyms
From Middle English pleiful, equivalent to play + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.