Dictionary entry details
• PLAY (noun)
Meaning:
A dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
drama; dramatic play; play
Context example:
he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
dramatic composition; dramatic work (a play for performance on the stage or television or in a movie etc.)
Meronyms (parts of "play"):
stage direction (an instruction written as part of the script of a play)
act (a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet)
Domain category:
drama (the literary genre of works intended for the theater)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
satyr play (an ancient Greek burlesque with a chorus of satyrs)
Passion play (a play representing the Passion of Christ)
mystery play (a medieval play representing episodes from the life of Christ)
morality play (an allegorical play popular in the 15th and 16th centuries; characters personified virtues and vices)
miracle play (a medieval play representing episodes from the life of a saint or martyr)
playlet (a short play)
theater of the absurd (plays stressing the irrational or illogical aspects of life, usually to show that modern life is pointless)
Grand Guignol (a play of a macabre or horrific nature)
Meaning:
A theatrical performance of a drama
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Context example:
the play lasted two hours
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
show (a social event involving a public performance or entertainment)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
musical; musical comedy; musical theater (a play or film whose action and dialogue is interspersed with singing and dancing)
curtain raiser (a short play presented before the main play)
Meaning:
A preset plan of action in team sports
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Context example:
the coach drew up the plays for her team
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
plan of action (a plan for actively doing something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
basketball play (a play executed by a basketball team)
razmataz; razzle; razzle-dazzle; razzmatazz (any exciting and complex play intended to confuse (dazzle) the opponent)
football play ((American football) a play by the offensive team)
power play ((ice hockey) a play in which one team has a numerical advantage over the other as a result of penalties)
knock on ((rugby) knocking the ball forward while trying to catch it (a foul))
Meaning:
A deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
maneuver; manoeuvre; play
Context examples:
he made a great maneuver / the runner was out on a play by the shortstop
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
motion; move; movement (the act of changing location from one place to another)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
obstruction (getting in someone's way)
baseball play ((baseball) a play executed by a baseball team)
footwork (the manner of using the feet)
shot; stroke ((sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand)
blitz; linebacker blitzing; safety blitz ((American football) defensive players try to break through the offensive line)
mousetrap; trap play ((American football) a play in which a defensive player is allowed to cross the line of scrimmage and then blocked off as the runner goes through the place the lineman vacated)
jugglery (the performance of a juggler)
icing; icing the puck ((ice hockey) the act of shooting the puck from within your own defensive area the length of the rink beyond the opponent's goal)
assist ((sports) the act of enabling another player to make a good play)
ball hawking (a skillful maneuver in catching balls or in stealing the ball from the opposing team)
completion; pass completion ((American football) a successful forward pass in football)
figure (a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating)
takeaway (the act of taking the ball or puck away from the team on the offense (as by the interception of a pass))
Holonyms ("play" is a part of...):
athletic game (a game involving athletic activity)
Meaning:
A state in which action is feasible
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Context examples:
the ball was still in play / insiders said the company's stock was in play
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
action; activeness; activity (the state of being active)
Meaning:
Utilization or exercise
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Context example:
the play of the imagination
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
employment; exercise; usage; use; utilisation; utilization (the act of using)
Meaning:
An attempt to get something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
bid; play
Context examples:
they made a futile play for power / he made a bid to gain attention
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
attempt; effort; endeavor; endeavour; try (earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something)
Meaning:
Activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
child's play; play
Context example:
Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
fireman (play in which children pretend to put out a fire)
doctor (children take the roles of physician or patient or nurse and pretend they are at the physician's office)
house (play in which children take the roles of father or mother or children and pretend to interact like adults)
Meaning:
(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds
Classified under:
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations
Synonyms:
period of play; playing period; play
Context example:
rain stopped play in the 4th inning
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
amount; measure; quantity (how much there is of something that you can quantify)
Domain category:
game (a contest with rules to determine a winner)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
third period (the third period of play in a game)
final period (the last period of play in a game)
half (in various games or performances: either of two periods of play separated by an interval)
period (one of three periods of play in hockey games)
quarter (one of four periods of play into which some games are divided)
over ((cricket) the period during which a given number of balls (6 in England but 8 in Australia) are bowled at the batsman by one player from the other team from the same end of the pitch)
second period (the second period of play in a game)
first period (the first period of play in a game)
golf hole; hole (one playing period (from tee to green) on a golf course)
chukka; chukker (one of six playing periods into which a polo match is divided)
frame; inning (a period of play in baseball during which each team has a turn at bat)
set (a unit of play in tennis or squash)
bout; round; turn ((sports) a period of play during which one team is on the offensive)
Holonyms ("play" is a part of...):
athletic game (a game involving athletic activity)
Meaning:
The removal of constraints
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Synonyms:
free rein; play
Context examples:
he gave free rein to his impulses / they gave full play to the artist's talent
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
freedom (the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints)
Meaning:
A weak and tremulous light
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
shimmer; play
Context examples:
the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers / the play of light on the water
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)
Meaning:
Verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
fun; sport; play
Context examples:
he became a figure of fun / he said it in sport
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
humor; humour; wit; witticism; wittiness (a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
paronomasia; pun; punning; wordplay (a humorous play on words)
clowning; comedy; drollery; funniness (a comic incident or series of incidents)
waggery; waggishness (waggish behavior)
jocosity; jocularity (fun characterized by humor)
Meaning:
Movement or space for movement
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
looseness; play
Context example:
there was too much play in the steering wheel
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
movability; movableness (the quality of being movable; capable of being moved or rearranged)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
wiggliness (a jerky back and forth kind of mobility)
slack; slackness (the condition of being loose (not taut))
Meaning:
Gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
frolic; gambol; romp; caper; play
Context examples:
it was all done in play / their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
word play (playing on words or speech sounds)
teasing (playful vexation)
horseplay (rowdy or boisterous play)
game (frivolous or trifling behavior)
craziness; folly; foolery; indulgence; lunacy; tomfoolery (foolish or senseless behavior)
coquetry; dalliance; flirt; flirtation; flirting; toying (playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest)
Meaning:
(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
turn; play
Context examples:
it is my turn / it is still my play
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
activity (any specific behavior)
Domain category:
game (a contest with rules to determine a winner)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
trick ((card games) in a single round, the sequence of cards played by all the players; the high card is the winner)
ruff; trumping ((card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit)
lead (the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge)
at-bat; bat ((baseball) a turn trying to get a hit)
down ((American football) a complete play to advance the football)
attack (an offensive move in a sport or game)
innings (the batting turn of a cricket player or team)
start; starting (a turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning))
move ((game) a player's turn to take some action permitted by the rules of the game)
Meaning:
The act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
gambling; gaming; play
Context examples:
his gambling cost him a fortune / there was heavy play at the blackjack table
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)
vice (a specific form of evildoing)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
sporting life (active interest in gambling on sports events)
bet; wager (the act of gambling)
gambling game; game of chance (a game that involves gambling)
unlicensed gambling (unlicensed gambling is illegal in most jurisdictions)
throw (casting an object in order to determine an outcome randomly)
Meaning:
The act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
swordplay; play
Hypernyms ("play" is a kind of...):
action (something done (usually as opposed to something said))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "play"):
fencing (the art or sport of fighting with swords (especially the use of foils or epees or sabres to score points under a set of rules))
• PLAY (verb)
Meaning:
Participate in games or sport
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Context examples:
We played hockey all afternoon / play cards / Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
gamble (play games for money)
complete; nail (complete a pass)
ace (play (a hole) in one stroke)
tee off (strike a ball from the teeing ground at the start of a hole)
bully off; face off (start a game by a face-off)
catch (be the catcher)
field (play as a fielder)
walk (give a base on balls to)
bowl (engage in the sport of bowling)
golf (play golf)
bandy (toss or strike a ball back and forth)
foul (commit a foul; break the rules)
put out (retire)
croquet (play a game in which players hit a wooden ball through a series of hoops)
putt (hit a putt)
seesaw; teeter-totter; teetertotter (ride on a plank)
bid; call (make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands)
play out (play to a finish)
exit (lose the lead)
cradle (run with the stick)
line up (take one's position before a kick-off)
curl (play the Scottish game of curling)
snooker (leave one's opponent unable to take a direct shot)
revoke (fail to follow suit when able and required to do so)
develop (move into a strategically more advantageous position)
develop (move one's pieces into strategically more advantageous positions)
die (to be on base at the end of an inning, of a player)
misplay (play wrong or in an unskillful manner)
start (play in the starting lineup)
fumble (drop or juggle or fail to play cleanly a grounder)
quarterback (play the quarterback)
fullback (play the fullback)
backstop (act as a backstop)
cricket (play cricket)
replay (play again)
unblock (play the cards of (a suit) so that the last trick on which a hand can follow suit will be taken by a higher card in the hand of a partner who has the remaining cards of a combined holding)
volley (make a volley)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Also:
play out (play to a finish)
Meaning:
Act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context examples:
This factor played only a minor part in his decision / This development played into her hands / I played no role in your dismissal
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Play on an instrument
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Context example:
The band played all night long
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
perform (give a performance (of something))
Domain category:
music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
bow (play on a string instrument)
accompany; follow; play along (perform an accompaniment to)
symphonise; symphonize (play or sound together, in harmony)
swing (play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm)
sound off; strike up (start playing)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue play
Meaning:
Play a role or part
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
act; play; represent
Context examples:
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
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
re-create (create anew)
Domain category:
performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
emote (give expression or emotion to, in a stage or movie role)
parody (make a spoof of or make fun of)
impersonate; portray (assume or act the character of)
act out (represent an incident, state, or emotion by action, especially on stage)
act out; enact; reenact (act out; represent or perform as if in a play)
support (play a subordinate role to (another performer))
make; make believe; pretend (represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context examples:
The kids were playing outside all day / I used to play with trucks as a little girl
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
act (be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
roughhouse (engage in rough or disorderly play)
arse around; fool; fool around; horse around (indulge in horseplay)
cavort; disport; frisk; frolic; gambol; lark; lark about; rollick; romp; run around; skylark; sport (play boisterously)
dabble; paddle; splash around (play in or as if in water, as of small children)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Replay (as a melody)
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
spiel; play
Context examples:
Play it again, Sam / She played the third movement very beautifully
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
re-create (create anew)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
tongue (articulate by tonguing, as when playing wind instruments)
modulate (change the key of, in music)
bang out (play loudly)
slur (play smoothly or legato)
recapitulate; repeat; reprise; reprize (repeat an earlier theme of a composition)
bugle (play on a bugle)
rag (play in ragtime)
jazz (play something in the style of jazz)
prelude (play as a prelude)
replay (play (a melody) again)
fiddle (play on a violin)
misplay (play incorrectly, e.g., play a wrong note)
riff (play riffs)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sentence example:
They will play the duet
Meaning:
Perform music on (a musical instrument)
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Context examples:
He plays the flute / Can you play on this old recorder?
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
sound (cause to sound)
Domain category:
music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)
music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
clarion (blow the clarion)
trumpet (play or blow on the trumpet)
fiddle (play the violin or fiddle)
harp (play the harp)
drum (play a percussion instrument)
pipe (play on a pipe)
chord (play chords on (a string instrument))
tweedle (play negligently on a musical instrument)
beat (produce a rhythm by striking repeatedly)
skirl (play the bagpipes)
register (manipulate the registers of an organ)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
act as; act; play
Context examples:
He acted the idiot / She plays deaf when the news are bad
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
The spotlights played on the politicians
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed)
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Bet or wager (money)
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Context examples:
He played $20 on the new horse / She plays the races
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
gamble (play games for money)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
underplay (play a card lower than (a held high card))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
recreate; play
Context examples:
On weekends I play / The students all recreate alike
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Context examples:
Let's play like I am mommy / Play cowboy and Indians
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
assume; feign; sham; simulate (make a pretence of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Meaning:
Emit recorded sound
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Context examples:
The tape was playing for hours / the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
sound (give off a certain sound or sounds)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Perform on a certain location
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Context examples:
The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16 / She has been playing on Broadway for years
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
perform (give a performance (of something))
Domain category:
performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Context examples:
He is playing his cards close to his chest / The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
deploy (place troops or weapons in battle formation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
pitch (lead (a card) and establish the trump suit)
cover (play a higher card than the one previously played)
declare (designate (a trump suit or no-trump) with the final bid of a hand)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Engage in an activity as if it were a game rather than take it seriously
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
toy; play
Context examples:
They played games on their opponents / play the stock market / play with her feelings / toy with an idea
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Behave in a certain way
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context examples:
play safe / play it safe / play fair
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Something ----s something Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective
Meaning:
Cause to emit recorded sounds
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
run; play
Context examples:
They ran the tapes over and over again / Can you play my favorite record?
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue play the movie
Meaning:
Manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
toy; diddle; fiddle; play
Context examples:
She played nervously with her wedding ring / Don't fiddle with the screws / He played with the idea of running for the Senate
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
manipulate (hold something in one's hands and move it)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
put out; retire (cause to be out on a fielding play)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Use to one's advantage
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Context example:
She plays on her clients' emotions
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
exploit; work (use or manipulate to one's advantage)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Consider not very seriously
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
trifle; dally; play
Context examples:
He is trifling with her / She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
consider; deal; look at; take (take into consideration for exemplifying purposes)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Sentence example:
Sam wants to play with Sue
Meaning:
Be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context examples:
This speech didn't play well with the American public / His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Behave carelessly or indifferently
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
toy; dally; flirt; play
Context example:
Play about with a young girl's affection
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
displace; move (cause to move, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Perform on a stage or theater
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
roleplay; playact; act; play
Context examples:
She acts in this play / He acted in 'Julius Caesar' / I played in 'A Christmas Carol'
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
perform (give a performance (of something))
Domain category:
dramatic art; dramatics; dramaturgy; theater; theatre (the art of writing and producing plays)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
underact; underplay (act (a role) with great restraint)
ham; ham it up; overact; overplay (exaggerate one's acting)
mime; pantomime (act out without words but with gestures and bodily movements only)
stooge (act as the stooge)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Be performed
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Context examples:
What's playing in the local movie theater? / 'Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years
Domain category:
performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
debut (appear for the first time in public)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Synonyms:
make for; wreak; bring; work; play
Context examples:
I cannot work a miracle / wreak havoc / bring comments / play a joke / The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
create; make (make or cause to be or to become)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context examples:
play water from a hose / The fountains played all day
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
discharge (pour forth or release)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Make bets
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Context examples:
Play the races / play the casinos in Trouville
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
bet; play; wager (stake on the outcome of an issue)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Stake on the outcome of an issue
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
wager; bet; play
Context examples:
I bet $100 on that new horse / She played all her money on the dark horse
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
gamble (play games for money)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
see (match or meet)
raise (bet more than the previous player)
play (make bets)
back; bet on; gage; game; punt; stake (place a bet on)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Shoot or hit in a particular manner
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Context example:
She played a good backhand last night
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
hit (cause to move by striking)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
hook (secure with the foot)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Use or move
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Context example:
I had to play my queen
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ (something) for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
promote (change a pawn for a king by advancing it to the eighth row, or change a checker piece for a more valuable piece by moving it the row closest to your opponent)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Employ in a game or in a specific position
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Context example:
They played him on first base
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ (something) for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
encounter; take on; meet; play
Context examples:
Princeton plays Yale this weekend / Charlie likes to play Mary
"Play" entails doing...:
compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "play"):
confront; face (oppose, as in hostility or a competition)
replay (repeat a game against the same opponent)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence examples:
Sam and Sue play
Sam cannot play Sue
Meaning:
Exhaust by allowing to pull on the line
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Context example:
play a hooked fish
Hypernyms (to "play" is one way to...):
beat; exhaust; tucker; tucker out; wash up (wear out completely)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
