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Synonyms

play-off

American  
[pley-awf, -of] / ˈpleɪˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

  1. (in competitive sports) the playing of an extra game, rounds, innings, etc., in order to settle a tie.

  2. a series of games or matches, as between the leading teams of two leagues, in order to decide a championship.

    In America the most exciting play-off is the World Series.
play off British  

verb

  1. to deal with or manipulate as if in playing a game

    to play one person off against another

  2. (intr) to take part in a play-off

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. sport an extra contest to decide the winner when two or more competitors are tied

  2. a contest or series of games to determine a championship, as between the winners of two competitions

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
play off Idioms  

  1. See under play both ends against the middle .

  2. Break a tie by playing an additional game or period, as in Each team had won three games so they had to play off the tie to decide the championship .

Etymology

Origin of play-off

First recorded in 1890–95; noun use of verb phrase play off

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He took over when they were 17th in the Championship, beating John Eustace to the job, with the season ending in a dramatic late play-off semi-final defeat by Sunderland.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

That took the defending champion above Van Veen into fifth and to within three points of Van Gerwen in the final play-off place.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

A play-off match would take place at a neutral ground, with the format and timing to be determined by the Premier League board.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

It's still possible to finish in the top six, though their play-off destiny is no longer in their own hands.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

‘One time in the middle of a play-off game I had to splint a quarterback’s leg with nothing but tree branches and strapping tape.’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.