play
play is a valid 4-letter word worth 9 points in Scrabble and 10 points in Words with Friends.
What does play mean?
Contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle.
“Princeton plays Yale this weekend”
“Charlie likes to play Mary”
Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.
“play a joke”
Replay (as a melody).
“She played the third movement very beautifully”
Perform on a stage or theater.
“She acts in this play”
“I played in `A Christmas Carol'”
Stake on the outcome of an issue.
“She played all her money on the dark horse”
Engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion.
“On weekends I play”
Cause to emit recorded audio or video.
“I'll play you my favorite record”
“He never tires of playing that video”
Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind.
“She plays deaf when the news are bad”
Behave carelessly or indifferently.
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 a role or part.
“Gielgud played Hamlet”
“She played the servant to her husband's master”
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”
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”
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”
Behave in a certain way.
“play safe”
“play it safe”
Be performed or presented for public viewing.
“What's playing in the local movie theater?”
“`Cats' has been playing on Broadway for many years”
Bet or wager (money).
“He played $20 on the new horse”
“She plays the races”
Cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space.
“The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack”
Discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream.
“play water from a hose”
“The fountains played all day”
(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession.
“it is still my play”
An attempt to get something.
“they made a futile play for power”
A deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill.
“the runner was out on a play by the shortstop”
Movement or space for movement.
“there was too much play in the steering wheel”
The removal of constraints.
“they gave full play to the artist's talent”
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”
Verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously).
(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds.
“rain stopped play in the 4th inning”
A preset plan of action in team sports.
“the coach drew up the plays for her team”
A state in which action is feasible.
“the ball was still in play”
“insiders said the company's stock was in play”
A theatrical performance of a drama.
“the play lasted two hours”
Anagrams of play
Every anagram above uses exactly the same letters — tap one to see its meaning and score.