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play

Definition for play

noun as in theater piece

Strongest matches

comedy, drama, hit, musical, opera, performance, show

Strong matches

entertainment, farce, flop, mask, potboiler, smash, theatrical, tragedy, turkey

Weak matches

curtain-raiser, one-act, smash hit, stage show

noun as in amusement, entertainment

Strongest matches

game, match, sport

Strong matches

caper, dalliance, delight, disport, diversion, foolery, frisk, frolic, fun, gambol, gaming, happiness, humor, jest, joking, lark, pastime, pleasure, prank, recreation, relaxation, romp, sportiveness, teasing

noun as in latitude, range

Strongest match

Strong matches

activity, exercise, give, leeway, margin, motion, movement, operation, room, scope, space, sweep, swing

Weak match

verb as in have fun

Strongest match

Strong matches

caper, carouse, cavort, clown, dally, disport, divert, frisk, frolic, gambol, joke, jump, kibitz, recreate, rejoice, revel, romp, skip, sport, toy, trifle

Weak matches

amuse oneself, be life of party, carry on, cut capers, cut up, entertain oneself, fool around, go on a spree, horse around, idle away, kick up heels, let go, let loose, let one's hair down, make merry, mess around, show off

verb as in compete in sport

Strongest match

Strong matches

challenge, contend, contest, disport, rival, sport, vie

Weak matches

be on a team, engage in, take on, take part

verb as in act; take the part of

Strongest matches

do, perform, portray, present

Strong matches

discourse, enact, execute, ham, impersonate, personate, playact, represent

Weak matches

act the part of, ham it up, lay an egg, play a gig, read a part, take the role of, tread the boards

verb as in gamble, risk

Strongest matches

game, put, set, take

Strong matches

bet, chance, exploit, finesse, hazard, jockey, maneuver, manipulate, speculate, stake, wager

Weak match

verb as in produce music

Strongest matches

Strong matches

blow, bow, drum, execute, fiddle, fidget, finger, operate, pedal, render, tickle

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We’ve seen enough plays, read enough books and watched enough movies — hell, we’ve lived in the real world long enough — to know where this story is headed.

From Salon

"We all carry a lot more digital ID now than we did 20 years ago, and I think that psychologically, it plays a different part," he added.

From BBC

Charting his passionate love affair with Elizabeth Taylor and his very public struggle with alcoholism, the play explores fame, ambition, and identity.

From BBC

Passes were played at a quick pace, often in a one-touch manner.

From BBC

Demonstrators submitted more than 1,900 signatures to Uefa in support of a petition launched this week, which said there could be "no fair play with representatives of genocide".

From BBC

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From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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