· a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"
Synonym(s): drama, dramatic_play
Hypernym(s): dramatic_composition, dramatic_work
· a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"
Hypernym(s): show
· a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"
Hypernym(s): plan_of_action
· a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"
Synonym(s): maneuver, manoeuvre
Hypernym(s): motion, movement, move
· a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"
Hypernym(s): action, activity, activeness
· utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"
Hypernym(s): use, usage, utilization, utilisation, employment, exercise
· an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"
Synonym(s): bid
Hypernym(s): attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try
· activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules; "Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child"
Synonym(s): child%27s_play
Hypernym(s): diversion, recreation
· (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"
Synonym(s): playing_period, period_of_play
Hypernym(s): measure, quantity, amount
· the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"
Synonym(s): free_rein
Hypernym(s): freedom
· a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"
Synonym(s): shimmer
Hypernym(s): change, alteration, modification
· verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"; "he said it in sport"
Hypernym(s): wit, humor, humour, witticism, wittiness
· movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"
Synonym(s): looseness
Hypernym(s): movability, movableness
· gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement; "it was all done in play"; "their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly"
Synonym(s): frolic, romp, gambol, caper
Hypernym(s): diversion, recreation
· (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"
Synonym(s): turn
Hypernym(s): activity
· the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table"
Hypernym(s): diversion, recreation, vice
· the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
Synonym(s): swordplay
Hypernym(s): action
· participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
Hypernym(s): compete, vie, contend
· act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome; "This factor played only a minor part in his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I played no role in your dismissal"
· play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"
Hypernym(s): perform
· play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master"
Hypernym(s): re-create
· be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"
Hypernym(s): act
· replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
Synonym(s): spiel
Hypernym(s): re-create
· perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
Hypernym(s): sound
· pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
· move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"
Hypernym(s): travel, go, move, locomote
· bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
Hypernym(s): gamble
· engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"
Synonym(s): recreate
· pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
Hypernym(s): simulate, assume, sham, feign
· emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
Hypernym(s): sound
· perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
Hypernym(s): perform
· put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game; "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"
Hypernym(s): deploy
· engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously; "They played games on their opponents"; "play the stock market"; "play with her feelings"; "toy with an idea"
Synonym(s): toy
· behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"
· cause to emit recorded audio or video; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "I'll play you my favorite record"; "He never tires of playing that video"
Synonym(s): run
· manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination; "She played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the Senate"
Synonym(s): toy, fiddle, diddle
Hypernym(s): manipulate
· use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"
· consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"
Hypernym(s): consider, take, deal, look_at
· be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way; "This speech didn't play well with the American public"; "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"
· behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl's affection"
· cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"
· perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"
Synonym(s): act, roleplay, playact
Hypernym(s): perform
· be performed or presented for public viewing; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"
· cause to happen or to occur as a consequence; "I cannot work a miracle"; "wreak havoc"; "bring comments"; "play a joke"; "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area"
Synonym(s): bring, work, wreak, make_for
· discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"
Hypernym(s): discharge
· make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville"
· stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse"
Hypernym(s): gamble
· shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"
Hypernym(s): hit
· use or move; "I had to play my queen"
Hypernym(s): use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ
· employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"
Hypernym(s): use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ
· contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary"
Synonym(s): meet, encounter, take_on
· exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"
Hypernym(s): exhaust, wash_up, beat, tucker, tucker_out