Usually means: Engage in structured competitive activity.
Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions
We found 11 dictionaries that define the word play the game:

General (9 matching dictionaries)
  1. play the game: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
  2. play the game: Merriam-Webster
  3. play the game: Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
  4. play the game: Collins English Dictionary
  5. play the game: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
  6. play the game: Dictionary.com
  7. Play the Game (American game show), Play the Game (song), Play the Game, Play the game: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
  8. play the game: TheFreeDictionary.com
  9. play the game: Wiktionary

Miscellaneous (1 matching dictionary)
  1. play the game: Idioms

Slang (1 matching dictionary)
  1. Play The Game: Urban Dictionary

Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, BlueSky
Definitions from Wiktionary (play the game)

▸ verb:  To behave fairly; to abide by the rules.

Similar:
play by the rules, behave, respect, behave oneself, perform, honor, walk a straight line, color inside the lines, abide, abide by, more...

Opposite:
cheat, break rules, disobey, rebel, defy

Phrases:
play the percentage game, Ultimate Play the Game, Play 'n' the Game, Play the Game Tonight, how to play the game of chess, more...

▸ Words similar to play the game

▸ Usage examples for play the game

▸ Idioms related to play the game

▸ Wikipedia articles (New!)

▸ Words that often appear near play the game

▸ Rhymes of play the game

▸ Invented words related to play the game

Similar:
play by the rules, behave, respect, behave oneself, perform, honor, walk a straight line, color inside the lines, abide, abide by, more...

Opposite:
cheat, break rules, disobey, rebel, defy

Phrases:
play the percentage game, Ultimate Play the Game, Play 'n' the Game, Play the Game Tonight, how to play the game of chess, more...



Writing poetry or lyrics? You can find related words that match a given meter.
This feature is permanently available from the "Related words" tab and from the Thesaurus.


(Click a button above to see words related to "play the game" that fit the given meter.)



Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Compound Your Joy