Another word for play
play
n.
Amusement
enjoyment, diversion, pleasure; see entertainment 1.
Recreation
relaxation, game, sport; see entertainment 2.
Fun
frolic, happiness, sportiveness; see fun.
A drama
piece, musical, theatrical; see drama 1, performance 2, show 2.
Sport
exhibition, match, tryout; see sport 1, 3.
Action
play
v.
To amuse oneself
entertain oneself, revel, make merry, carouse, play games, rejoice, have a good time, idle away, horse around*.
To gambol
frisk, sport, cavort, joke, dance, romp, frolic, play games, make jokes, be a practical joker, jump, jump about, skip, frolic, caper, cut capers*, cut up*, show off*, be the life of the party*, play the fool*, carry on*.
To produce music
perform, execute, operate, work, cause to sound, finger, pedal, bow, plunk, tinkle, pipe, toot, mouth, pump, fiddle, sound, strike, saw, scrape, twang, pound, thump, tickle.
To display light, erratic movement
To act in a play
impersonate, present, represent; see act 3, perform 2.
To engage in sport
participate, engage, rival; see compete, contest 2.
To pretend
To gamble
MLA Style
"play." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 July 2019. <https://thesaurus.yourdictionary.com/PLAY>.
APA Style
play. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22nd, 2019, from https://thesaurus.yourdictionary.com/PLAY
Another word for play
To occupy oneself with amusement or diversion:
disport, recreate, sport. See workTo move one's fingers or hands in a nervous or aimless fashion:
fiddle, fidget, fool, monkey, putter, tinker, toy, trifle, twiddle. See touchTo make a bet:
bet, gamble, game, lay1, wager. Idiom: put one's money on something. See gamblingTo treat lightly or flippantly:
dally, flirt, toy, trifle. See workTo play the part of:
act, do, enact, impersonate, perform, play-act, portray, represent. See action, performing arts, substituteTo make music:
perform. See performing artsTo perform according to one's artistic conception:
execute, interpret, render. See performing artsTo be performed:
run, show. See performing artsTo control to one's own advantage by artful or indirect means:
exploit, maneuver, manipulate. See control, straightTo cause to undergo or bear (something unwelcome or damaging, for example):
impose, inflict, visit, wreak. See give, over, willing
- (Informal)
To agree to cooperate or participate:
go along. See participate
- (Informal)
To be sexually unfaithful to another:
philander, womanize. (Informal) cheat, fool around, mess around. See sex
To make less emphatic or obvious:
de-emphasize, tone down. (Informal) soft-pedal. See show
To place in opposition or be in opposition to:
counter, match, oppose, pit1. Idioms: bump heads with, meet head-on, set (or be) at odds, set (or be) at someone's throat, trade blows (or punches). See support
To cause (a line) to become longer and less taut:
unreel, unroll, unwind. See giveTo use all of:
consume, drain, draw down, eat up, exhaust, expend, finish, run through, spend, use up. (Informal) polish off. See increaseTo make or become no longer active or productive:
deplete, desiccate, dry up, give out, run out. See continue
To accord emphasis to:
accent, accentuate, emphasize, feature, highlight, italicize, point up, stress, underline, underscore. See important
Activity engaged in for relaxation and amusement:
disport, diversion, fun, recreation, sport. See workActions taken as a joke:
fun, game, sport. See workThe act of putting into play:
application, employment, exercise, exertion, implementation, operation, usage, use, utilization. See usedSuitable opportunity to accept or allow something:
elbowroom, latitude, leeway, margin, room, scope. See place, restraintEase of or space for movement:
elbowroom, freedom. See tighten
MLA Style
"play." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 July 2019. <https://thesaurus.yourdictionary.com/PLAY>.
APA Style
play. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22nd, 2019, from https://thesaurus.yourdictionary.com/PLAY
