| play | (noun) gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement | Synonyms: caper, frolic, gambol, romp |
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| (noun) (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession | Synonyms: turn |
| (noun) the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize) | Synonyms: gambling, gaming |
| (noun) an attempt to get something | Synonyms: bid |
| (noun) a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill | Synonyms: maneuver, manoeuvre |
| (noun) a preset plan of action in team sports | - |
| (noun) activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules | Synonyms: child's play |
| (noun) the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully | Synonyms: swordplay |
| (noun) utilization or exercise | - |
| (noun) movement or space for movement | Synonyms: looseness |
| (noun) a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage | Synonyms: drama, dramatic play |
| (noun) verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously) | Synonyms: fun, sport |
| (noun) a theatrical performance of a drama | - |
| (noun) a weak and tremulous light | Synonyms: shimmer |
| (noun) a state in which action is feasible | - |
| (noun) the removal of constraints | Synonyms: free rein |
| (noun) (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds | Synonyms: period of play, playing period |
| (verb) engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously | Synonyms: toy |
| (verb) pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind | Synonyms: act, act as |
| (verb) exhaust by allowing to pull on the line | - |
| (verb) consider not very seriously | Synonyms: dally, trifle |
| (verb) participate in games or sport | - |
| (verb) bet or wager (money) | - |
| (verb) contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle | Synonyms: encounter, meet, take on |
| (verb) put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game | - |
| (verb) make bets | - |
| (verb) stake on the outcome of an issue | Synonyms: bet, wager |
| (verb) shoot or hit in a particular manner | - |
| (verb) employ in a game or in a specific position | - |
| (verb) use or move | - |
| (verb) use to one's advantage | - |
| (verb) manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination | Synonyms: diddle, fiddle, toy |
| (verb) discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream | - |
| (verb) replay (as a melody) | Synonyms: spiel |
| (verb) perform music on (a musical instrument) | - |
| (verb) play a role or part | Synonyms: act, represent |
| (verb) perform on a certain location | - |
| (verb) be performed or presented for public viewing | - |
| (verb) cause to emit recorded audio or video | Synonyms: run |
| (verb) pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity | - |
| (verb) perform on a stage or theater | Synonyms: act, playact, roleplay |
| (verb) emit recorded sound | - |
| (verb) play on an instrument | - |
| (verb) cause to happen or to occur as a consequence | Synonyms: bring, make for, work, wreak |
| (verb) move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly | - |
| (verb) cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space | - |
| (verb) engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion | Synonyms: recreate |
| (verb) behave in a certain way | - |
| (verb) be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children | - |
| (verb) act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome | - |
| (verb) behave carelessly or indifferently | Synonyms: dally, flirt, toy |
| (verb) be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way | - |
| playable | (adjective) capable of or suitable for being played or played on | - |
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| playact | (verb) perform on a stage or theater | Synonyms: act, play, roleplay |
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| playacting | (noun) the performance of a part or role in a drama | Synonyms: acting, performing, playing |
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| playactor | (noun) an actor who travels around the country presenting plays | Synonyms: barnstormer, play-actor, trouper |
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| playback | (noun) the act of reproducing recorded sound | - |
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| (noun) electronic equipment comprising the part of a tape recorder that reproduces the recorded material | - |
| playbill | (noun) a theatrical program | - |
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| playbook | (noun) a scheme or set of strategies for conducting a business campaign or a political campaign | - |
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| (noun) a book containing the scripts of one or more dramatic plays | - |
| (noun) a notebook containing descriptions and diagrams of the plays that a team has practiced (especially an American football team) | - |
| playbox | (noun) a box for a child's toys and personal things (especially at a boarding school) | Synonyms: play-box |
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| playboy | (noun) a man devoted to the pursuit of pleasure | Synonyms: Corinthian, man-about-town |
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| playday | (noun) time for play or diversion | Synonyms: playtime |
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| played | (adjective) (of games) engaged in | - |
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| player | (noun) a theatrical performer | Synonyms: actor, histrion, role player, thespian |
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| (noun) a person who participates in or is skilled at some game | Synonyms: participant |
| (noun) someone who plays a music as a profession | Synonyms: instrumentalist, musician |
| (noun) a person who pursues a number of different social and sexual partners simultaneously | - |
| (noun) someone who takes part in an activity | Synonyms: participant |
| playfellow | (noun) a companion at play | Synonyms: playmate |
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| playful | (adjective) full of fun and high spirits | - |
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| playfully | (adverb) in a playful manner | - |
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| playfulness | (noun) activities that are enjoyable or amusing | Synonyms: fun, merriment |
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| (noun) a disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement | Synonyms: fun |
| (noun) a festive merry feeling | Synonyms: gaiety |
| playgoer | (noun) someone who attends the theater | Synonyms: theatergoer, theatregoer |
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| playground | (noun) yard consisting of an outdoor area for children's play | - |
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| (noun) an area where many people go for recreation, holidays or other purposes | Synonyms: resort area, vacation spot |
| playhouse | (noun) plaything consisting of a small model of a house that children can play inside of | Synonyms: wendy house |
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| playing | (noun) the action of taking part in a game or sport or other recreation | - |
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| (noun) the act of playing a musical instrument | - |
| (noun) the performance of a part or role in a drama | Synonyms: acting, performing, playacting |
| playlet | (noun) a short play | - |
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| playlist | (noun) a list of musical selections for performance or for broadcast by radio | Synonyms: play list |
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| playmaker | (noun) a player in a team sport who leads attacks or maneuvers in such a way that a teammate can score | - |
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| playmate | (noun) a companion at play | Synonyms: playfellow |
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| playoff | (noun) any final competition to determine a championship | - |
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| playpen | (noun) a portable enclosure in which babies may be left to play | Synonyms: pen |
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| playroom | (noun) a recreation room for noisy activities (parties or children's play etc) | Synonyms: game room, rumpus room |
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| playschool | (noun) a small informal nursery group meeting for half-day sessions | Synonyms: play group |
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| playscript | (noun) a written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a performance | Synonyms: book, script |
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| playsuit | (noun) a sports outfit for women or children; usually consists of shorts and a blouse | - |
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| plaything | (noun) an artifact designed to be played with | Synonyms: toy |
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| playtime | (noun) time for play or diversion | Synonyms: playday |
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| playwright | (noun) someone who writes plays | Synonyms: dramatist |
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