English synonyms about - contact  

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

jump to corresponding sense entry

play

noun

1 play

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, ... 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, ... show more

Roget 180: space, extension, extent, superficial extent, expanse, stretch, hyperspace; room, scope, range, field, way, expansion, compass, ... show more

Roget 175: influence; importance etc. 642; weight, pressure, preponderance, prevalence, sway; predominance, predominancy; ascendency; dominance, reign; ... show more

Roget 170: agency, operation, force, working, strain, function, office, maintenance, exercise, work, swing, play; interworking, interaction; ... show more

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

2 play

A theatrical performance of a drama.

3 play

A preset plan of action in team sports.

4 play

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

synonyms: maneuver, manoeuvre.

Dutch: manoeuvre

5 play

A state in which action is feasible.

6 play

Utilization or exercise.

7 play

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

synonym: bid.

8 play

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

9 play

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.

10 play

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

synonym: free rein.

11 play

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

synonym: shimmer.

Polish: gra

12 play

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

synonyms: fun, sport.

13 play

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

synonym: looseness.

14 play

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; ... show more

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

15 play

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

synonym: turn.

16 play

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

17 play

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

synonym: swordplay.

verb

1 play

Participate in games or sport.

Dutch: spelen

2 play

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

3 play

Play on an instrument.

Dutch: musiceren, spelen

4 play

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; ... show more

Roget 680: do, perform, execute; achieve etc. (complete) 729; transact, enact; commit, perpetrate, inflict; exercise, prosecute, ... show more

Roget 170: be in action etc. adj.; operate, work; act, act upon; perform, play, support, sustain, strain, maintain, ... show more

Dutch: acteren, spelen, toneelspelen

5 play

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

Dutch: spelen

6 play

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

synonym: spiel.

Dutch: opzetten

7 play

Perform music on (a musical instrument).

Dutch: spelen, bespelen, manipuleren

8 play

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, ... show more

Dutch: betonen, houden, uithangen, voordoen

9 play

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

10 play

Bet or wager (money).

11 play

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

synonym: recreate.

Dutch: recreëren, verpozen

12 play

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

13 play

Emit recorded sound.

14 play

Perform on a certain location.

15 play

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

Dutch: spelen, vallen

16 play

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.

17 play

Behave in a certain way.

18 play

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

19 play

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 ... show more

Dutch: spelen, stoeien

20 play

Use to one's advantage.

21 play

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

synonyms: dally, trifle.

22 play

Be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way.

23 play

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

synonyms: dally, flirt, toy.

Dutch: spelen

24 play

Cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space.

25 play

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

synonyms: act, playact, roleplay.

Dutch: rollenspel

26 play

Be performed or presented for public viewing.

27 play

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; ... show more

Dutch: aanrichten

28 play

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

29 play

Make bets.

Roget 314: oscillate; vibrate, librate; alternate, undulate, wave; rock, swing; pulsate, beat; wag, waggle; nod, bob, ... show more

30 play

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

31 play

Shoot or hit in a particular manner.

32 play

Use or move.

33 play

Employ in a game or in a specific position.

34 play

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.

35 play

Exhaust by allowing to pull on the line.


Moby thesaurus: ALGOL, COBOL, FORTRAN, Grand Guignol, Passion play, Tom show, abuse, accentuate, accompany, act, act a part, act as, act as foil, act out, act up, acting, action, actions, activism, activity ... show more.

Find more on play elsewhere: etymology - rhymes - Wikipedia.

debug info: 0.1517