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

“I’m a game show host now for the Boomers who were calling me Urkel,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

The game kind of took off in a different way.

From Los Angeles Times

The Giants have won just two of their 10 games this season and have lost their past five.

From BBC

"We are all very aware we are the players, ultimately, we are the people who are playing the game and who control whether we win or lose," said Rowlands.

From BBC

It’s the first time the NFL has moved a game to Thursday since it was allowed last year.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agreeable
• amenable
• willing

More About Game

What does game mean?

A game is an activity for amusement, particularly with rules that guide the action, like musical chairs.

A game is also the materials needed to play certain games, such as a checkerboard and disks for playing checkers.

A game is also a competitive activity, like football, or a single occasion of the activity.

To game is to play computer or video games or to gamble.

To game is used figuratively to mean to cheat or manipulate to one’s advantage.

Example: I have never been to a game that was this slow and boring.

Where does game come from?

The first records of the term game come from before the year 1000. It ultimately comes from Old English gaman and thought to be related to Old High German, meaning “glee.” While not every game is fun, the goal is usually amusement.

Game is most often used to refer to an activity meant to be entertaining. Related senses include “number of points to win a game,” “the score at a particular point in the game,” and “a particular style of playing a game.”

Informally, game can refer to a required spirit for an activity, as in Who’s game for trying the new Indian restaurant? Informally, it can also refer to a business or profession, as in The dictionary game is a lot of fun if you love words!

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to game? 

• gameless (adjective)
• gamelike (adjective)
• gameness (noun)
• ungamelike (adjective)

What are some synonyms for game?

• bold
• entertainment
• competition
• contest
• match
• score

What are some words that share a root or word element with game? 

• gamebag
• game-ball
• game-changer
• gamekeeper

What are some words that often get used in discussing game?

• bet
• board
• controller
• fun
• play
• sport

How is game used in real life?

Games are supposed to inspire amusement, but games can be taken very seriously.

Ready to cover an NBA playoff game … on Thursday, Aug. 20 … at 1 p.m. This feels weird.

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) August 20, 2020

Michael Jordan never lost a first-round game when his team was the 1 seed

— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) August 19, 2020

Shout out to all the community managers out there that are having really awkward meetings today with their higher-ups about why they should put their logo on a bean in a video game for $130k lol

— Fall Guys (@FallGuysGame) August 18, 2020

 

 

Try using game!

Is game used correctly in the following sentence?

Deb’s game is to convince Ron that he is a good painter, even though he’s not.