Phrasal Verb 'Play'

We have 26 phrasal verb definitions related to 'Play'.

Play about

Meaning: Be silly

Example: Please stop PLAYING ABOUT.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• British English

Play about

Meaning: Be sexually promiscuous or unfaithful

Example: She PLAYED ABOUT before she got married.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• British English

Play along

Meaning: Pretend to agree or accept something in order to keep someone happy or to get more information

Example: I disagreed with the idea but I had to PLAY ALONG because everyone else liked it.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Play around

Meaning: Be silly

Example: The children were PLAYING AROUND and being annoying.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Play around

Meaning: Be sexually promiscuous or unfaithful

Example: I PLAYED AROUND a lot at college.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Play at

Meaning: Pretend to be something

Example: He just PLAYS AT being a lawyer- he never wins a case.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Play away

Meaning: Be sexually unfaithful when away from home

Example: He travels abroad a lot and his wife thinks he PLAYS AWAY.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Play back

Meaning: Listen to or watch something you've recorded

Example: We PLAYED the recording BACK to see if it was OK.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Play down

Meaning: Try to make something seem less important

Example: The Government has tried to PLAY DOWN the importance of the minister's resignation.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Play off

Meaning: Play a game to decide who the winner is

Example: As both teams had the same points, they PLAYED OFF to decide the winner.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Play off

Meaning: Make people compete against each other so that you benefit

Example: He PLAYED them OFF against each other to get the best deal.

Notes:

• Separable [obligatory]
• International English

Play on

Meaning: Continue playing a sport though there might be a reason to stop

Example: It looked like a foul, but the referee told them to PLAY ON.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• British English

Play on

Meaning: Continue playing music

Example: The band PLAYED ON for another hour.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Play on

Meaning: Exploit a weakness

Example: They are just PLAYING ON our fears to get us to do what they want.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Play on

Meaning: Pun

Example: The advert PLAYS ON the slogan

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Play out

Meaning: Progress, often till it finishes

Example: Let's see how things PLAY OUT.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Play out

Meaning: Pretend that something is real and reduce its effect

Example: Computer games allow people to PLAY OUT their violent urges.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Play out

Meaning: Play something to the end

Example: Rain stopped them PLAYING the game OUT.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Play out

Meaning: Unwind (e.g., fishing line)

Example: When he hooked the swordfish, his line rapidly PLAYED OUT.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Play up

Meaning: Behave badly

Example: The children PLAYED UP all evening and drove the babysitter mad.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Play up to

Meaning: Flatter someone

Example: I'm PLAYING UP TO my boss at the moment because I want the promotion.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• American English

Play up to

Meaning: Behave in a way expected

Example: He's got a reputation for being trouble and PLAYS UP TO it.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Play upon

Meaning: Exploit a weakness

Example: They are PLAYING UPON people's concerns to get their way.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Play with

Meaning: Touch and move something to occupy your hands

Example: He can't stop PLAYING WITH his beard.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Play with

Meaning: Not eat much of a meal

Example: I wasn't hungry, so I just PLAYED WITH the food.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Play with

Meaning: Consider something, but not seriously

Example: We PLAYED WITH the idea, but decided against it.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English