game 1 of 2

noun

ˈgām How to pronounce game (audio)
Definition of gamenext
1
as in tournament
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize decided he would indulge in a friendly basketball game with his friends before dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in strategy
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective the crook told his accomplice, "Here's the game: look surprised when the police ask about the money"

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in play
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously there's no need to get upset, all our teasing is only a game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in profession
the activity by which one regularly makes a living stand-up comedy is his game, and he's one of a handful of people making a decent living at it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in area
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence the education game simply was no longer of interest to her

Synonyms & Similar Words

game

2 of 2

adjective

as in ready
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) are you game for going out tonight?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun game differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of game are fun, jest, play, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When could fun be used to replace game?

While in some cases nearly identical to game, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

When can jest be used instead of game?

While the synonyms jest and game are close in meaning, jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When is play a more appropriate choice than game?

The synonyms play and game are sometimes interchangeable, but play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

When might sport be a better fit than game?

The meanings of sport and game largely overlap; however, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of game
Noun
Simpson, arguably the fastest runner in the game, broke on contact for home as the go-ahead run. —Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025 Engelbert will be speaking to members of the media at a press conference ahead of Saturday night’s game, in which she is expected to address the ongoing labor negotiations, along with expansion, TV deals and the overall state of the league. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 19 July 2025
Adjective
The game will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN, with pre-game coverage beginning before the 8:00 PM ET puck drop. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025 The excitement is heightened by additional events, including an annual mascot game at halftime, a pre-game clinic and the Teddy Toss. —Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for game
Recent Examples of Synonyms for game
  1. tournament
  2. strategy
  3. play
  4. profession
  5. area
  6. ready
  7. competition
  8. plan
Noun
  • The 6-8, 245-pound Shores threw 47 pitches of 100 mph or more during the NCAA tournament for the College World Series-champion Tigers.
    — Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 14 July 2025
  • Sinner seemed to mean it, and to live by it; he had nearly been knocked out of the tournament during the quarterfinals, when Grigor Dimitrov had taken the first two sets and had the match in control before blowing out a pectoral muscle.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Definition of tournament
Noun
  • Neither the city's Office of Public Health and Safety nor the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department agreed to requests for interviews about the situation on Leonard Street and the city's evolving strategy for managing homeless camps.
    — Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 July 2025
  • From advanced smart textiles to resilient sourcing strategies, the region’s manufacturers are pushing forward—despite an increasingly volatile landscape.
    — Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 25 July 2025
Definition of strategy
Noun
  • Amenities: Free on-site parking, restaurant, rooftop bar, gym, pool and kid’s pool, beach access, dedicated kid’s play area Editor’s tip: Don’t miss the sourdough breads and pastries baked fresh every morning courtesy of the hotel’s new bakery in town, Red Jane.
    — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 15 July 2025
  • In an interview, Missouri State senior associate athletic director Casey Hunt made no bones about the fact that the stunt/A&T twofer was a gender-equity play, noting the relatively low cost and high roster capacity of both sports, especially post-House.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of play
Noun
  • Her patronage will help elevate the profession and support our mission to champion teachers.
    — Meredith Kile, People.com, 22 July 2025
  • The shortage of nurses is straining our hospitals and increasing health-care costs—and yet there are also big barriers in place for students interested in entering the profession where they are sorely needed.
    — Michael B. Horn, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Definition of profession
Noun
  • The company, which leased the area in 2014, received a key permit from President Joe Biden’s (D) Department of the Interior at the end of 2024.
    — Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2025
  • Just over two weeks after deadly flash floods hit Central Texas, the Kerrville city officials announced the number of missing people has dropped to three in Kerr County, the area most devastated by the disaster.
    — Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 20 July 2025
Definition of area
Adjective
  • Fair weather in winter and spring, plus this summer’s extended heatwave, yielded an abundance of peach blossoms, and the orchard is now ready for families to pick their own peaches right off the branches.
    — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • If Armani’s milestone celebrations are testament to the brand’s continuity, many fellow fashion brands are, on the contrary, ready to write entirely new chapters in their history, reflecting a period of unprecedented creative upheaval amid a global slowdown in luxury spending.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 July 2025
Definition of ready
Noun
  • Meanwhile, in an unexpected move, the TV Academy said late yesterday afternoon that nominees in the first two categories — reality competition program and talk series — would be announced on CBS Mornings shortly before 8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025
  • Beginning with five pairs who choose to couple up, the show then sees the islanders through eight weeks of fierce competition as bombshells enter the villa and games are played to see who will leave the villa as the strongest couple.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 15 July 2025
Definition of competition
Noun
  • Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Chris Bailey announced an effort to create his department's new strategic plan in April.
    — Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 24 July 2025
  • The 21-year-old plans on taking an extra gap year before medical school in an effort to save money.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025
Definition of plan

Phrases Containing game

Browse Nearby Words

gambols
game
gamely
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Game.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/game. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on game

Nglish: Translation of game for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All