A dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage:
— He wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway.

synonyms: drama, dramatic play.

Roget 748: freedom, liberty, independence; license etc. (permission) 760; facility etc. 705.    scope, range, latitude, play; free play, full play, free scope, full scope; free stage and no favor; swing, full swing, elbowroom, margin, rope, wide berth; Liberty Hall.    franchise, denization^†; free man, freed man, livery man; denizen.    autonomy, self-government, liberalism, free trade; noninterference etc. 706; Monroe Doctrine [U.S.].    immunity, exemption; emancipation etc. (liberation) 750; enfranchisement, affranchisement^†.    free land, freehold; allodium^†; frankalmoigne [Fr.], mortmain [Fr.].    bushwhacker; freelance, free thinker, free trader; independent.    ... show more

Roget 599: the drama, the stage, the theater, the play; film the film, movies, motion pictures, cinema, cinematography; theatricals, dramaturgy, histrionic art, buskin, sock, cothurnus^†, Melpomene and Thalia, Thespis.    play, drama, stage play, piece [Fr.], five-act play, tragedy, comedy, opera, vaudeville, comedietta^†, lever de rideau [Fr.], interlude, afterpiece^†, exode^†, farce, divertissement, extravaganza, burletta^†, harlequinade^†, pantomime, burlesque, opera bouffe [Fr.], ballet, spectacle, masque, drame comedie drame [Fr.]; melodrama, melodrame^†; comidie larmoyante [Fr.], sensation drama; tragicomedy, farcical-comedy; monodrame monologue; duologue trilogy^†; charade, proverbs; mystery, miracle play; musical, musical comedy.    [movies] western, horse opera; flick [Coll.]; spy film, love story, adventure film, documentary, nature film; pornographic film, smoker, skin flick, X-rated film.    act, scene, tableau; induction, introduction; prologue, epilogue; libretto.    performance, representation, mise en scene [Fr.], stagery^†, jeu de theatre [Fr.]; acting; gesture etc. 550; impersonation etc. 554; stage business, gag, buffoonery.    light comedy, genteel comedy, low comedy.    theater; playhouse, opera house; house; music hall; amphitheater, circus, hippodrome, theater in the round; puppet show, fantoccini^†; marionettes, Punch and Judy.    auditory, auditorium, front of the house, stalls, boxes, pit, gallery, parquet; greenroom, coulisses [Fr.].    flat; drop, drop scene; wing, screen, side scene; transformation scene, curtain, act drop; proscenium.    stage, scene, scenery, the boards; trap, mezzanine floor; flies; floats, footlights; offstage; orchestra.    theatrical costume, theatrical properties.    movie studio, back lot, on location.    part, role, character, dramatis personae [Lat.]; repertoire.    actor, thespian, player; method actor; stage player, strolling player; stager, performer; mime, mimer^†; artists; comedian, tragedian; tragedienne, Roscius; star, movie star, star of stage and screen, superstar, idol, sex symbol; supporting actor, supporting cast; ham, hamfatter [Slang]; masker^†.    pantomimist, clown harlequin, buffo^†, buffoon, farceur, grimacer, pantaloon, columbine; punchinello^†; pulcinello^†, pulcinella^†; extra, bit-player, walk-on role, cameo appearance; mute, figurante^†, general utility; super, supernumerary.    company; first tragedian, prima donna [Sp.], protagonist; jeune premier [Fr.]; debutant, debutante [Fr.]; light comedian, genteel comedian, low comedian; walking gentleman, amoroso^†, heavy father, ingenue [Fr.], jeune veuve [Fr.].    mummer, guiser^†, guisard^†, gysart^†, masque.    mountebank, Jack Pudding; tumbler, posture master, acrobat; contortionist; ballet dancer, ballet girl; chorus singer; coryphee danseuse [Fr.].    property man, costumier, machinist; prompter, call boy; manager; director, stage manager, acting manager.    producer, entrepreneur, impresario; backer, investor, angel [Fig.].    dramatic author, dramatic writer; play writer, playwright; dramatist, mimographer^†.    ... show more

Roget 180: space, extension, extent, superficial extent, expanse, stretch, hyperspace; room, scope, range, field, way, expansion, compass, sweep, swing, spread.    dimension, length etc. 200; distance etc. 196; size etc. 192; volume; hypervolume.    latitude, play, leeway, purchase, tolerance, room for maneuver.    spare room, elbow room, house room; stowage, roomage^†, margin; opening, sphere, arena.    open space, free space; void etc. (absence) 187; waste; wildness, wilderness; moor, moorland; campagna^†.    abyss etc. (interval) 198; unlimited space; infinity etc. 105; world; ubiquity etc. (presence) 186; length and breadth of the land.    proportions, acreage; acres, acres and perches, roods and perches, hectares, square miles; square inches, square yards, square centimeters, square meters, yards (clothing) &c.; ares, arpents^†.    ... show more

Roget 175: influence; importance etc. 642; weight, pressure, preponderance, prevalence, sway; predominance, predominancy^†; ascendency^†; dominance, reign; control, domination, pull [Slang]; authority etc. 737; capability etc. (power) 157; effect etc. 154; interest.    synergy (cooperation) 709.    footing; purchase etc. (support) 215; play, leverage, vantage ground.    tower of strength, host in himself; protection, patronage, auspices.    ... show more

Roget 170: agency, operation, force, working, strain, function, office, maintenance, exercise, work, swing, play; interworking^†, interaction; procurement.    causation etc. 153; instrumentality etc. 631; influence etc. 175; action etc. (voluntary) 680; modus operandi etc. 627.    quickening power, maintaining power, sustaining power; home stroke.    ... show more

Dutch: theateropvoering, drama, spel, stuk, theaterstuk, toneelspel, toneelstuk
Polish: dramat, sztuka

A theatrical performance of a drama.

A preset plan of action in team sports.

A deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill:
— The runner was out on a play by the shortstop.

synonyms: maneuver, manoeuvre.

Dutch: manoeuvre

A state in which action is feasible.

Utilization or exercise.

An attempt to get something:
— They made a futile play for power.

synonym: bid.

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: child's play.

Dutch: kinderspel
Polish: zabawa

in games or plays or other performances The time during which play proceeds:
— Rain stopped play in the 4th inning.

synonyms: period of play, playing period.

The removal of constraints:
— They gave full play to the artist's talent.

synonym: free rein.

A weak and tremulous light:
— The play of light on the water.

synonym: shimmer.

Polish: gra

Verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously).

synonyms: fun, sport.

Movement or space for movement:
— There was too much play in the steering wheel.

synonym: looseness.

Gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement:
— It was all done in play.

synonyms: caper, frolic, gambol, romp.

Roget 840: amusement, entertainment, recreation, fun, game, fun and games; diversion, divertissement; reaction, solace; pastime, passetemps [Fr.], sport; labor of love; pleasure etc. 827.    relaxation; leisure etc. 685.    fun, frolic, merriment, jollity; joviality, jovialness^†; heyday; laughter etc. 838; jocosity, jocoseness^†; drollery, buffoonery, tomfoolery; mummery, pleasantry; wit etc. 842; quip, quirk.    [verbal expressions of amusement: list] giggle, titter, snigger, snicker, crow, cheer, chuckle, shout; horse laugh, belly laugh, hearty laugh; guffaw; burst of laughter, fit of laughter, shout of laughter, roar of laughter, peal of laughter; cachinnation^†; Kentish fire; tiger.    play; game, game at romps; gambol, romp, prank, antic, rig, lark, spree, skylarking, vagary, monkey trick, gambade, fredaine^†, escapade, echappee [Fr.], bout, espieglerie [Fr.]; practical joke etc. (ridicule) 856.    dance; hop, reel, rigadoon^†, saraband^†, hornpipe, bolero, ballroom dance; [ballroom dances: list], minuet, waltz, polka, fox trot, tango, samba, rhumba, twist, stroll, hustle, cha-cha; fandango, cancan; bayadere^†; breakdown, cake-walk, cornwallis [U.S.], break dancing; nautch-girl; shindig [U.S.]; skirtdance^†, stag dance, Virginia reel, square dance; galop^†, galopade^†; jig, Irish jig, fling, strathspey^†; allemande [Fr.]; gavot^†, gavotte, tarantella; mazurka, morisco^†, morris dance; quadrille; country dance, folk dance; cotillon, Sir Roger de Coverley; ballet etc. (drama) 599; ball; bal, bal masque, bal costume; masquerade; Terpsichore.    festivity, merrymaking; party etc. (social gathering) 892; blowout [U.S.], hullabaloo, hoedown, bat [U.S.], bum [U.S.], bust [Slang], clambake [U.S.], donation party [U.S.], fish fry [U.S.], jamboree [Slang], kantikoy^†, nautch^†, randy, squantum [U.S.], tear [Slang], Turnerfest^†, yule log; fete, festival, gala, ridotto^†; revels, revelry, reveling; carnival, brawl, saturnalia, high jinks; feast, banquet etc. (food) 298; regale, symposium, wassail; carouse, carousal; jollification, junket, wake, Irish wake, picnic, fete champetre [Fr.], regatta, field day; treat.    round of pleasures, dissipation, a short life and a merry one, racketing, holiday making.    rejoicing etc. 838; jubilee etc. (celebration) 883.    bonfire, fireworks, feu-de-joie, firecracker.    holiday; gala day, red letter day, play day; high days and holidays; high holiday, Bank holiday; May day, Derby day; Saint Monday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday; Bairam^†; wayz-goos^†, bean feast; Arbor Day, Declaration Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day; Mardi gras [Fr.], mi-careme [Fr.], feria [Lat.], fiesta.    place of amusement, theater; hall, concert room, ballroom, assemblyroom^†; music hall.    park, plaisance^†; national park, national forest, state park, county park, city park, vest-pocket park, public park (public) 737.1; arbor; garden etc. (horticulture) 371; pleasure ground, playground, cricketground, croquet ground, archery ground, hunting ground; tennis court, racket court; bowling alley, green alley; croquet lawn, rink, glaciarum^†, skating rink; roundabout, merry-go-round; swing; montagne Russe [Fr.].    game of chance, game of skill.    athletic sports, gymnastics; archery, rifle shooting; tournament, pugilism etc. (contention) 720; sports etc. 622; horse racing, the turf; aquatics etc. 267; skating, sliding; cricket, tennis, lawn tennis; hockey, football, baseball, soccer, ice hockey, basketball; rackets, fives, trap bat and ball, battledore and shuttlecock, la grace; pall-mall, tipcat^†, croquet, golf, curling, pallone^†, polo, water polo; tent pegging; tilting at the ring, quintain [Mediev.]; greasy pole; quoits, horseshoes, discus; rounders, lacrosse; tobogganing, water polo; knurr and spell^†.    [childrens' games] leapfrog, hop skip and jump; mother may I; French and English, tug of war; blindman's bluff, hunt the slopper^†, hide and seek, kiss in the ring; snapdragon; cross questions and crooked answers.   ; crisscross, hopscotch; jacks, jackstones^†, marbles; mumblety-peg, mumble-the-peg, pushball, shinney, shinny, tag &c.; billiards, pool, pingpong, pyramids, bagatelle; bowls, skittles, ninepins, kain^†, American bowls^†; tenpins [U.S.], tivoli.    cards, card games; whist, rubber; round game; loo, cribbage, besique^†, euchre, drole^†, ecarte [Fr.], picquet^†, allfours^†, quadrille, omber, reverse, Pope Joan, commit; boston, boaston^†; blackjack, twenty-one, vingtun [Fr.]; quinze [Fr.], thirty-one, put, speculation, connections, brag, cassino^†, lottery, commerce, snip-snap-snoren^†, lift smoke, blind hookey, Polish bank, Earl of Coventry, Napoleon, patience, pairs; banker; blind poker, draw poker, straight poker, stud poker; bluff, bridge, bridge whist; lotto, monte, three-card monte, nap, penny-ante, poker, reversis^†, squeezers, old maid, fright, beggar-my-neighbor; baccarat.    [cards: list] ace, king, queen, knave, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, trey, deuce; joker; trump, wild card.    [card suits: list] spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds; major suit, minor suit.    bower; right bower, left bower; dummy; jackpot; deck.    [hands at poker: list] pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full-house, four of a kind, royal flush; misere &c.. [board games: list] chess, draughts, checkers, checquers, backgammon, dominos, merelles^†, nine men's morris, go bang, solitaire; game of fox and goose; monopoly; loto &c.; [word games: list], scrabble, scribbage, boggle, crossword puzzle, hangman.    morra^†; gambling etc. (chance) 621.    toy, plaything, bauble; doll etc. (puppet ) 554; teetotum^†; knickknack etc. (trifle) 643; magic lantern etc. (show) 448; peep show, puppet show, raree show, gallanty show^†; toy shop; quips and cranks and wanton wiles, nods and becks quips and cranks and wanton wiles, nods and becks and wreathed smiles" [Milton]. entertainer, showman, showgirl; dancer, tap dancer, song-and-dance man; vaudeville act; singer; musician etc. 416.    sportsman, gamester, reveler; master of ceremonies, master of revels; pompom girl^†; arbiter elegantiarum [Lat.]; arbiter bibendi [Lat.], archer, fan [U.S.], toxophilite^†, turfman^†.    ... show more

Dutch: stoeien, luchtsprong, stoeipartij
Polish: dokazywanie, swawola, figle, harce, psoty

game The activity of doing something in an agreed succession:
— It is still my play.

synonym: turn.

The act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize):
— There was heavy play at the blackjack table.

synonyms: gambling, gaming.

Dutch: gokken
Polish: hazard

The act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully.

synonym: swordplay.

Participate in games or sport.

Dutch: spelen

Act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome.

Play on an instrument.

Dutch: musiceren, spelen

Play a role or part:
— Gielgud played Hamlet.
— She played the servant to her husband's master.

synonyms: act, represent.

Roget 554: represent, delineate; depict, depicture^†; portray; take a likeness, catch a likeness etc. n.; hit off, photograph, daguerreotype; snapshot; figure, shadow forth, shadow out; adumbrate; body forth; describe etc. 594; trace, copy; mold.    dress up; illustrate, symbolize.    paint etc. 556; carve etc. 557; engrave etc. 558.    personate, personify; impersonate; assume a character; pose as; act; play etc. (drama) 599; mimic etc. (imitate) 19; hold the mirror up to nature.    ... show more

Roget 680: do, perform, execute; achieve etc. (complete) 729; transact, enact; commit, perpetrate, inflict; exercise, prosecute, carry on, work, practice, play.    employ oneself, ply one's task; officiate, have in hand etc. (business) 625; labor etc. 686; be at work; pursue a course; shape one's course etc. (conduct) 692.    act, operate; take action, take steps; strike a blow, lift a finger, stretch forth one's hand; take in hand etc. (undertake) 676; put oneself in motion; put in practice; carry into execution etc. (complete) 729; act upon.    be an actor etc. 690; take a part in, act a part in, play a part in, perform a part in; participate in; have a hand in, have a finger in the pie; have to do with; be a party to, be a participator in; bear a hand, lend a hand; pull an oar, run in a race; mix oneself up with etc. (meddle) 682.    be in action; come into operation etc. (power at work) 170.    ... show more

Roget 170: be in action etc. adj.; operate, work; act, act upon; perform, play, support, sustain, strain, maintain, take effect, quicken, strike.    come play, come bring into operation; have play, have free play; bring to bear upon.    ... show more

Dutch: acteren, spelen, toneelspelen

Be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children.

Dutch: spelen

Replay (as a melody):
— Play it again, Sam.
— She played the third movement very beautifully.

synonym: spiel.

Dutch: opzetten

Perform music on (a musical instrument).

Dutch: spelen, bespelen, manipuleren

Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind:
— She plays deaf when the news are bad.

synonyms: act, act as.

Roget 599: act, play, perform; put on the stage; personate etc. 554; mimic etc. (imitate) 19; enact; play a part, act a part, go through a part, perform a part; rehearse, spout, gag, rant; strut and fret one's hour upon a stage;" tread the boards, tread the stage; come out; star it.    ... show more

Dutch: betonen, houden, uithangen, voordoen

Move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly.

Bet or wager (money).

Engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion:
— On weekends I play.

synonym: recreate.

Dutch: recreëren, verpozen

Pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity.

Emit recorded sound.

Perform on a certain location.

Put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game.

Dutch: spelen, vallen

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.

synonym: toy.

Behave in a certain way.

Cause to emit recorded audio or video:
— I'll play you my favorite record.
— He never tires of playing that video.

synonym: run.

Dutch: afdraaien, afspelen, draaien

Manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination:
— She played nervously with her wedding ring.
— He played with the idea of running for the Senate.

synonyms: diddle, fiddle, toy.

Roget 416: play, pipe, strike up, sweep the chords, tweedle, fiddle; strike the lyre, beat the drum; blow the horn, sound the horn, wind the horn; doodle; grind the organ; touch the guitar etc. (instruments) 417; thrum, strum, beat time.    execute, perform; accompany; sing a second, play a second; compose, set to music, arrange.    sing, chaunt, chant, hum, warble, carol, chirp, chirrup, lilt, purl, quaver, trill, shake, twitter, whistle; sol-fa^†; intone.    have an ear for music, have a musical ear, have a correct ear.    ... show more

Dutch: spelen, stoeien

Use to one's advantage.

Consider not very seriously:
— She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania.

synonyms: dally, trifle.

Be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way.

Behave carelessly or indifferently:
— Play about with a young girl's affection.

synonyms: dally, flirt, toy.

Dutch: spelen

Cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space.

Perform on a stage or theater:
— She acts in this play.
— I played in `A Christmas Carol'.

synonyms: act, playact, roleplay.

Dutch: rollenspel

Be performed or presented for public viewing.

Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence:
— Play a joke.

synonyms: bring, make for, work, wreak.

Roget 677: use, make use of, employ, put to use; put in action, put in operation, put in practice; set in motion, set to work.    ply, work, wield, handle, manipulate; play, play off; exert, exercise, practice, avail oneself of, profit by, resort to, have recourse to, recur to, take betake oneself to; take up with, take advantage of; lay one's hands on, try.    render useful etc. 644; mold; turn to account, turn to use; convert to use, utilize; work up; call into play, bring into play; put into requisition; call forth, draw forth; press into service, enlist into the service; bring to bear upon, devote, dedicate, consecrate, apply, adhibit^†, dispose of; make a handle of, make a cat's-paw of.    fall back upon, make a shift with; make the most of, make the best of.    use up, swallow up; consume, absorb, expend; tax, task, wear, put to task.    ... show more

Dutch: aanrichten

Discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream.

Make bets.

Roget 314: oscillate; vibrate, librate^†; alternate, undulate, wave; rock, swing; pulsate, beat; wag, waggle; nod, bob, courtesy, curtsy; tick; play; wamble^†, wabble^†; dangle, swag.    fluctuate, dance, curvet, reel, quake; quiver, quaver; shake, flicker; wriggle; roll, toss, pitch; flounder, stagger, totter; move up and down, bob up and down etc. adv.; pass and repass, ebb and flow, come and go; vacillate etc. 605; teeter [U.S.].    brandish, shake, flourish.    ... show more

Stake on the outcome of an issue:
— She played all her money on the dark horse.

synonyms: bet, wager.

Dutch: er op kunnen rekenen, wedden

Shoot or hit in a particular manner.

Use or move.

Employ in a game or in a specific position.

Contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle:
— Princeton plays Yale this weekend.
— Charlie likes to play Mary.

synonyms: encounter, meet, take on.

Exhaust by allowing to pull on the line.