· a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage; "he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway"

Synonym(s): drama, dramatic_play

Hypernym(s): dramatic_composition, dramatic_work

· a theatrical performance of a drama; "the play lasted two hours"

Hypernym(s): show

· a preset plan of action in team sports; "the coach drew up the plays for her team"

Hypernym(s): plan_of_action

· a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop"

Synonym(s): maneuver, manoeuvre

Hypernym(s): motion, movement, move

· a state in which action is feasible; "the ball was still in play"; "insiders said the company's stock was in play"

Hypernym(s): action, activity, activeness

· utilization or exercise; "the play of the imagination"

Hypernym(s): use, usage, utilization, utilisation, employment, exercise

· an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention"

Synonym(s): bid

Hypernym(s): attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try

· 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(s): child%27s_play

Hypernym(s): diversion, recreation

· (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds; "rain stopped play in the 4th inning"

Synonym(s): playing_period, period_of_play

Hypernym(s): measure, quantity, amount

· the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent"

Synonym(s): free_rein

Hypernym(s): freedom

· a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water"

Synonym(s): shimmer

Hypernym(s): change, alteration, modification

· verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"; "he said it in sport"

Synonym(s): fun, sport

Hypernym(s): wit, humor, humour, witticism, wittiness

· movement or space for movement; "there was too much play in the steering wheel"

Synonym(s): looseness

Hypernym(s): movability, movableness

· gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement; "it was all done in play"; "their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly"

Synonym(s): frolic, romp, gambol, caper

Hypernym(s): diversion, recreation

· (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play"

Synonym(s): turn

Hypernym(s): activity

· the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); "his gambling cost him a fortune"; "there was heavy play at the blackjack table"

Synonym(s): gambling, gaming

Hypernym(s): diversion, recreation, vice

· the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully

Synonym(s): swordplay

Hypernym(s): action

· participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"

Hypernym(s): compete, vie, contend

· act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome; "This factor played only a minor part in his decision"; "This development played into her hands"; "I played no role in your dismissal"

Hypernym(s): act, move

· play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"

Hypernym(s): perform

· play a role or part; "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"

Synonym(s): act, represent

Hypernym(s): re-create

· be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"

Hypernym(s): act

· replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"

Synonym(s): spiel

Hypernym(s): re-create

· perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"

Hypernym(s): sound

· pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"

Synonym(s): act, act_as

Hypernym(s): act, behave, do

· move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly; "The spotlights played on the politicians"

Hypernym(s): travel, go, move, locomote

· bet or wager (money); "He played $20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"

Hypernym(s): gamble

· engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"

Synonym(s): recreate

· pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"

Hypernym(s): simulate, assume, sham, feign

· emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"

Hypernym(s): sound

· perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"

Hypernym(s): perform

· put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game; "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"

Hypernym(s): deploy

· 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"; "toy with an idea"

Synonym(s): toy

Hypernym(s): act, behave, do

· behave in a certain way; "play safe"; "play it safe"; "play fair"

Hypernym(s): act, move

· cause to emit recorded audio or video; "They ran the tapes over and over again"; "I'll play you my favorite record"; "He never tires of playing that video"

Synonym(s): run

· manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination; "She played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the Senate"

Synonym(s): toy, fiddle, diddle

Hypernym(s): manipulate

· use to one's advantage; "She plays on her clients' emotions"

Hypernym(s): exploit, work

· consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"

Synonym(s): dally, trifle

Hypernym(s): consider, take, deal, look_at

· be received or accepted or interpreted in a specific way; "This speech didn't play well with the American public"; "His remarks played to the suspicions of the committee"

· behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl's affection"

Synonym(s): dally, toy, flirt

Hypernym(s): act, move

· cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space; "The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack"

Hypernym(s): move, displace

· perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"

Synonym(s): act, roleplay, playact

Hypernym(s): perform

· be performed or presented for public viewing; "What's playing in the local movie theater?"; "`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years"

· cause to happen or to occur as a consequence; "I cannot work a miracle"; "wreak havoc"; "bring comments"; "play a joke"; "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area"

Synonym(s): bring, work, wreak, make_for

Hypernym(s): make, create

· discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream; "play water from a hose"; "The fountains played all day"

Hypernym(s): discharge

· make bets; "Play the races"; "play the casinos in Trouville"

Hypernym(s): bet, wager, play

· stake on the outcome of an issue; "I bet $100 on that new horse"; "She played all her money on the dark horse"

Synonym(s): bet, wager

Hypernym(s): gamble

· shoot or hit in a particular manner; "She played a good backhand last night"

Hypernym(s): hit

· use or move; "I had to play my queen"

Hypernym(s): use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ

· employ in a game or in a specific position; "They played him on first base"

Hypernym(s): use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ

· contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle; "Princeton plays Yale this weekend"; "Charlie likes to play Mary"

Synonym(s): meet, encounter, take_on

· exhaust by allowing to pull on the line; "play a hooked fish"

Hypernym(s): exhaust, wash_up, beat, tucker, tucker_out