26984 words

played

15 definitions • 27 examples
1
past simple and past participle of
2
When you play, especially as a child, you spend time doing an enjoyable and/or entertaining activity:

Examples:

play with The children spent the afternoon playing with their new toys.
My daughter used to play with the kids next door.
3
to take part in a game or other organized activity:

Examples:

play something (with someone) Do you want to play cards/football (with us)?
play in Irene won't be able to play in the tennis match on Saturday.
play for Which team do you play for?
Luke plays centre-forward (= plays in that position within the team).
4
to compete against a person or team in a game:

Examples:

Who are the Giants playing next week?
5
to hit or kick a ball in a game:

Examples:

play something to someone He played the ball back to the goalkeeper.
A good pool player takes time deciding which shot to play.
6
(in a card game) to choose a card from the ones you are holding and put it down on the table:

Examples:

She played the ace of spades.
7
to perform an entertainment or a particular character in a play, film, etc.:

Examples:

play to Scottish Opera played to full houses every night.
play at I didn't realize that "Macbeth" was playing (= being performed) at the festival.
In the movie version, Branagh played the hero.
8

Examples:

to play dead/dumb
play host Would you mind playing host (= entertaining the guests)?
9
to deceive someone to make them laugh or in order to get an advantage over them:

Examples:

play a joke/trick on She loves playing practical jokes on her friends.
10
to help to achieve something:

Examples:

play a part in My thanks to everyone who has played a part in saving the hospital.
11
to perform music on an instrument or instruments:

Examples:

He learned to play the clarinet at the age of ten.
[ + two objects ] Play us a song!/Play a song for us!
On Radio London they play African and South American music as well as rock and pop.
They could hear a jazz band playing in the distance.
12
to (cause a machine to) produce sound or a picture:

Examples:

Play the last few minutes of the video again.
13
to direct or be directed over or onto something:

Examples:

play hoses onto Firefighters played their hoses onto the base of the fire.
A fountain was playing (= sending out water) in the courtyard outside.
14
(of something you see, such as light) to move quickly or be seen for a short time:

Examples:

play across/over/on A smile played across/over/on his lips.
15
to risk money, especially on the results of races or business deals, hoping to win more money:

Examples:

play the horses He plays the horses every Saturday.
play the stock market You may well lose money if you play the stock market.

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