game

¹

[ geym ]

noun

1. an amusement or pastime:

   children's games.

2. the material or equipment used in playing certain games:

   The store started selling toys and games.

3. a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators:

   Flag football is a game growing in popularity.

   Synonyms: competition, contest, sport

4. a single occasion of such an activity, or a definite portion of one:

   the final game of the season;

   a rubber of three games at bridge.

5. the number of points required to win a game.
6. the score at a particular stage in a game:

   With five minutes to play, the game was 7 to 0.

7. a particular manner or style of playing a game:

   Her game of chess is improving.

8. anything resembling a game, as in requiring skill, endurance, or adherence to rules:

   She's an expert at the game of diplomacy.

9. a trick or strategy:

   They can see through your game.

   Synonyms: artifice, scheme, plot, plan, stratagem

10. something treated lightly or lacking in seriousness; sport:

    That's enough of your games!

    When I was young, love was just a game to me.

11. wild animals, including birds and fishes, such as those hunted for food or taken for sport or profit:

    The area is particularly rich in game.

    Synonyms: quarry, prey

12. the flesh of such wild animals, used as food:

    The cook made a dish of game.

13. any object of pursuit, attack, abuse, etc.:

    The new boy at school seemed to be fair game for practical jokers.

    Synonyms: quarry, prey

14. Informal. a business or profession:

    He's in the real-estate game.

15. Informal. the ability to attract or charm romantic or sexual partners:

    He's got no game—hasn't had a date in months.

16. Archaic. fighting spirit; pluck.

adjective

, gam·er, gam·est.

1. relating to or composed of animals hunted or taken as game, or to their flesh.
2. having a fighting spirit; plucky.

   Synonyms: fearless, dauntless, intrepid, bold, brave

3. Informal. having the required spirit or will (often followed by for or an infinitive):

   Who's game for a hike through the woods?

verb (used without object)

, gamed, gam·ing.

1. to play games of chance for stakes; gamble.
2. Digital Technology. to play computer or video games.

verb (used with object)

, gamed, gam·ing.

1. to squander in games of chance (usually followed by away ).
2. to manipulate to one's advantage, especially by trickery; attempt to take advantage of:

   The policy is flawed and many people try to game the system.

game

²

[ geym ]

adjective

1. lame:

   a game leg.

game

¹

/ ɡeɪm /

noun

1. an amusement or pastime; diversion
2. a contest with rules, the result being determined by skill, strength, or chance
3. a single period of play in such a contest, sport, etc
4. the score needed to win a contest
5. a single contest in a series; match
6. plural; often capital an event consisting of various sporting contests, esp in athletics

   Highland Games

   Olympic Games

7. equipment needed for playing certain games
8. short for computer game
9. style or ability in playing a game

   he is a keen player but his game is not good

10. a scheme, proceeding, etc, practised like a game

    the game of politics

11. an activity undertaken in a spirit of levity; joke

    marriage is just a game to him

12. 1. wild animals, including birds and fish, hunted for sport, food, or profit
    2. ( as modifier )

       game laws

13. the flesh of such animals, used as food: generally taken not to include fish
14. an object of pursuit; quarry; prey (esp in the phrase fair game )
15. informal.
    work or occupation
16. informal.
    a trick, strategy, or device

    I can see through your little game

17. obsolete.
    pluck or courage; bravery
18. slang.
    prostitution (esp in the phrase on the game )
19. give the game away
    to reveal one's intentions or a secret
20. make game of or make a game of
    to make fun of; ridicule; mock
21. off one's game
    playing badly
22. on one's game
    playing well
23. play the game
    to behave fairly or in accordance with rules
24. the game is up
    there is no longer a chance of success

adjective

1. informal.
   full of fighting spirit; plucky; brave
2. game as Ned Kelly or as game as Ned Kelly informal.
   extremely brave; indomitable
3. informal.
   usually foll by for prepared or ready; willing

   I'm game for a try

verb

1. intr to play games of chance for money, stakes, etc; gamble

game

²

/ ɡeɪm /

adjective

1. a less common word for lame 1

   game leg

Derived Forms

• ˈgameˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• game·less adjective
• game·like adjective
• game·ness noun
• un·game·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of game¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun game, gam, gamme “joy; pleasure; sport; hunting,” Old English gaman, gomen; cognate with Old High German gaman “glee”

Origin of game²

First recorded in 1775–85; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of game¹

Old English gamen; related to Old Norse gaman, Old High German gaman amusement

Origin of game²

C18: probably from Irish cam crooked

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. die game,
   1. to die after a brave struggle.
   2. to remain steadfast or in good spirits at the moment of defeat:

      He knew that as a candidate he didn't have a chance in the world, but he campaigned anyway and died game.

2. make game of, to make fun of; ridicule:

   It's cruel to make game of the weak and defenseless.

3. off one’s game,
   1. Sports. playing badly:

      You can tell the pitcher's off his game—he's walked three batters in a row.

   2. not performing as well as usual:

      The showrunner and her writers are off their game, and episodes this season drag on without the humor and lightness fans had come to expect.

4. on one’s game,
   1. Sports. playing well:

      You need to recruit experienced players who will be on their game coming straight off the bench.

   2. performing well, or as well as usual:

      She’s been noticeably sharper and really on her game since she came back from vacation.

5. play games, to act in an evasive, deceitful, manipulative, or trifling manner in dealing with others:

   Don't play games with me—I want to know if you love me or not!

6. play the game, Informal.
   1. to act or play in accordance with the rules.
   2. to act honorably or justly:

      We naively assumed that our allies would continue to play the game.

7. talk a big / good game, to make exaggerated claims or promise extraordinary results:

   The PR team talks a big game, but revenue for their department has been flat for three years running.

More idioms and phrases containing game

• ahead of the game
• at this stage (of the game)
• badger game
• beat someone at his or her own game
• call someone's bluff (game)
• confidence game
• end game
• fair game
• fun and games
• give away (the game)
• losing battle (game)
• name of the game
• only game in town
• play a waiting game
• play games
• play the game
• waiting game
• whole new ball game

Synonym Study

See play.

Example Sentences

Last month, he attended Scotland's game against Portugal at Hampden.

From BBC

Labour MSP Neil Bibby said the minister's attendance at the Aberdeen v Livingston game at Pittodrie has "raised particular eyebrows" and asked for further details of the discussions to be published.

From BBC

Both have left the camp and will be unavailable for Friday's game at Windsor Park and Monday's final Nations League fixture in Luxembourg.

From BBC

The same year, the Sierra Club helped publish the bestseller “The Population Bomb” by Stanford professor Paul Ehrlich and his wife, Anne, a Stanford scientific researcher, which argued that saving the planet was a numbers game.

From Salon

“A lot of people like to use a baseball analogy. Some say we’re in the early innings. Well, our analysts think we’re still in batting practice, meaning we are not even in the game yet,” CFRA’s Stovall noted.

From Salon

Related Words

• agreeable
• amenable
• willing