play
Play can refer to a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage, a theatrical performance of a drama, or a preset plan of action in team sports. As a verb, play can mean to act or have an effect in a specified way or with a specific effect or outcome, participate in games or sport, or be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children.
Length
4
Scrabble
9
WWF
10
Starts
PL
Ends
LAY
Difficulty
Easy
Dictionary
What Does “PLAY” Mean?
/pleɪ/
play has 52 documented senses across noun, verb.
Noun
17 sensesa dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
“he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway”
Synonyms
a theatrical performance of a drama
“the play lasted two hours”
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”
utilization or exercise
“the play of the imagination”
Show 11 more noun definitions
an attempt to get something
“they made a futile play for power”
“he made a bid to gain attention”
Synonyms
activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules
“Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child”
(in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds
“rain stopped play in the 4th inning”
the removal of constraints
“he gave free rein to his impulses”
“they gave full play to the artist's talent”
a weak and tremulous light
“the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers”
“the play of light on the water”
Synonyms
(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession
“it is my turn”
“it is still my play”
Synonyms
the act using a sword (or other weapon) vigorously and skillfully
Synonyms
Verb
35 sensesparticipate in games or sport
“We played hockey all afternoon”
“play cards”
“Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches”
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”
play on an instrument
“The band played all night long”
“Sam and Sue play”
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”
replay (as a melody)
“Play it again, Sam”
“She played the third movement very beautifully”
“They will play the duet”
Synonyms
Show 29 more verb definitions
perform music on (a musical instrument)
“He plays the flute”
“Can you play on this old recorder?”
pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind
“He acted the idiot”
“She plays deaf when the news are bad”
Synonyms
move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly
“The spotlights played on the politicians”
bet or wager (money)
“He played $20 on the new horse”
“She plays the races”
engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion
“On weekends I play”
“The students all recreate alike”
Synonyms
pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity
“Let's play like I am mommy”
“Play cowboy and Indians”
emit recorded sound
“The tape was playing for hours”
“the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered”
perform on a certain location
“The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16”
“She has been playing on Broadway for years”
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”
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”
Synonyms
behave in a certain way
“play safe”
“play it safe”
“play fair”
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”
“Sam and Sue play the movie”
Synonyms
use to one's advantage
“She plays on her clients' emotions”
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”
cause to move or operate freely within a bounded space
“The engine has a wheel that is playing in a rack”
be performed or presented for public viewing
“What's playing in the local movie theater?”
“‘Cats’ has been playing on Broadway for many years”
discharge or direct or be discharged or directed as if in a continuous stream
“play water from a hose”
“The fountains played all day”
make bets
“Play the races”
“play the casinos in Trouville”
shoot or hit in a particular manner
“She played a good backhand last night”
use or move
“I had to play my queen”
employ in a game or in a specific position
“They played him on first base”
exhaust by allowing to pull on the line
“play a hooked fish”
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Vowels
1
Consonants
3
Word Intelligence
Explore the word play with its definition, score, letter pattern, and useful word game details.
Definition
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
Length
4 letters
Starts With
P
Ends With
Y
Vowels
1
Consonants
3
Letters
P, L, A, Y
Use Case
Useful for Scrabble, Wordle, crosswords, anagrams, and other word games.
Letter Breakdown
Word Facts
Key letter, score, and pattern facts for play.
Word Strategy
Strategy notes for using play in Scrabble, Wordle-style games, crosswords, and anagram solving.
Scrabble Strategy
★★★☆☆PLAY has a Scrabble score of 9. It is useful for balancing a rack and building steady board position.
Wordle Strategy
★★☆☆☆PLAY is not five letters, so it is not a standard Wordle answer, but its letter pattern can still help with word analysis.
Crossword Strategy
★★★★☆PLAY can be useful in crossword solving because it has a clear starting letter, ending letter, and 4-letter structure.
Anagram Strategy
★★★★☆PLAY uses unique letters, giving more flexibility when checking possible anagrams and word game combinations.
Letter Intelligence
A deeper look at the letter structure, patterns, and useful game signals inside play.
Unique Letters
4
Repeated Letters
0
Highest Value Letter
Y
Letter Pattern
ABCD
CV Pattern
CCVC
Vowel Share
25%
Consonant Share
75%
Bigrams
PL, LA, AY
Trigrams
PLA, LAY
Crossword Intelligence
Crossword-style clues, crossing help, and pattern notes for play.
Related Words
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paals
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paan
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paans
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pablum
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pablums
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pabouche
This word is included in the UnscrambleHQ word-game dictionary. A verified definition is not currently available.
pabouches
This word is included in the UnscrambleHQ word-game dictionary. A verified definition is not currently available.
Word Usage Insights
Practical observations about how this word performs in different word games and puzzle situations.
Word Intelligence Links
Explore word lists connected to PLAY by length, score, vowels, consonants, starting letters, ending letters, and word game tools.
Word Family
Explore words that share a similar beginning or root pattern with play.
Related Word Tools
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