game

I. game¹ S1 W1 /ɡeɪm/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: gamen]
1. ACTIVITY OR SPORT [countable]
a) an activity or sport in which people compete with each other according to agreed rules:
We used to love playing games like chess or backgammon.
b) an occasion when a game is played ⇨ match:
Did you see the game on TV last night?
a game of tennis/football etc
Would you like to have a game of tennis?
game against/with
England’s World Cup game against Holland ⇨ ball game, board game, video game, war game
2. games [plural]
a) a large organized sports event:
the Olympic Games
b) British English organized sports as a school subject or lesson SYN PE:
We have games on Thursdays.
a games lesson
3. PART OF A MATCH [countable] one of the parts into which a single match is divided, for example in tennis or bridge¹(4):
Graf leads, two games to one.
4. CHILDREN [countable] a children’s activity in which they play with toys, pretend to be someone else etc
game of
a game of hide-and-seek
The boys were playing a game in the backyard.
5. SKILL sb’s game how well someone plays a particular game or sport
improve/raise your game
Liam’s taking lessons to improve his game.
the strongest aspect of his game
6. give the game away to spoil a surprise or secret by doing or saying something that lets someone guess what the secret is:
Lynn gave the game away by laughing when Kim walked in.
7. beat somebody at their own game (also play somebody at their own game British English) to beat someone or fight back against them by using the same methods that they use
8. NOT SERIOUS be a game to be something that you do to enjoy yourself rather than for a serious purpose:
It’s just a game to them. They don’t care what happens.
9. play games (with somebody)
a) to behave in a dishonest or unfair way in order to get what you want:
Are you sure he’s really interested, and not just playing silly games with you?
b) to not be serious about doing something:
We want a deal. We’re not interested in playing games.
10. ANIMALS/BIRDS [uncountable] wild animals, birds, and fish that are hunted for food, especially as a sport:
game birds ⇨ ↑big game
11. the only game in town used to say that something is the only possible choice in a situation:
The Church of England is no longer the only game in town.
12. BUSINESS [singular] informal an area of work or business:
I’ve been in this game for over ten years.
13. what’s her/your etc game? British English spoken used to ask what the true reason for someone’s behaviour is:
Reg is being very nice all of a sudden. What’s his game?
14. the game’s up spoken used to tell someone that something wrong or dishonest that they have done has been discovered:
Come out, Don. The game’s up.
15. a game of chance a game in which you risk money on the result:
Poker is a game of chance.
16. somebody got game American English informal used to say that someone is very skilful at doing something, especially a sport
17. be on the game British English informal to be a ↑prostitute
18. game on spoken said when the balance of a sports match or competition changes, and both sides suddenly have a chance of winning
19. game over informal said to emphasize that an event or activity is completely finished
20. make game of somebody old-fashioned to make fun of someone
⇨ fair game, ⇨ fun and games at fun¹(5), ⇨ the name of the game at name¹(10), ⇨ a mug’s game at mug¹(5)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ play a game They explained how to play the game.
▪ see/watch a game Did you see the game last night?
▪ have a game British English They were having a game of pool.
▪ win/lose a game A.C. Milan won the game with a last-minute goal. | Arsenal lost the game because of a mistake by their goalkeeper.
▪ the game is tied (=both teams or players had the same score) The game was tied 10-10 at halftime.
▪ draw a game British English (=end the game with the same score as the opposing team or player) We played badly and were lucky to draw the game.
■ NOUN + game
▪ a computer/video game He was up all night playing computer games.
▪ a card game Bridge is a card game for four people.
▪ a board/ball game board games such as Monopoly and Scrabble
▪ a team game I wasn't very good at team games when I was at school.
▪ a party game What's your favourite party game?
▪ a basketball/baseball etc game He was watching a baseball game on TV.
▪ a home game (=played at a team's own sports field) Next Saturday Liverpool have a home game against Manchester United.
▪ an away game (=played at an opposing team's sports field) We didn't win any away games last season.
▪ a league game (=played as part of a league competition) There's a big league game against Chelsea on Saturday.
▪ a cup game (=played as part of a cup competition) He hopes to play in the cup game on Wednesday.
▪ a playoff game American English (=one of a series of games played by the best teams in a competition to decide the final winner ) This is the first of their five playoff games.
▪ a play-off game British English (=played to decide the winner after a previous game ended with both teams having equal points)
▪ an indoor game There is a hall for indoor games and social functions.
▪ an outdoor game Outdoor games are affected by the weather.
■ phrases
▪ the rules of the game It's against the rules of the game to pick up the ball.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

game

game [game games gamed gaming gamer gamest] noun, adjective [ɡeɪm] [ɡeɪm]

noun

ACTIVITY/SPORT
1. countable an activity or a sport with rules in which people or teams compete against each other
• card games
• board games
• a game of chance/skill
• ball games, such as football or tennis
• (NAmE) We're going to the ball game (= baseball game).

2. countable an occasion of playing a game
• to play a game of chess
• Saturday's League game against Swansea
• Let's have a game of table tennis.

• They're in training for the big game.

3. singular sb's ~ the way in which sb plays a game
• Maguire raised his game to collect the £40 000 first prize.

• Stretching exercises can help you avoid injury and improve your game.

SPORTS

4. games plural a large organized sports event

• the Olympic Games

5. games plural (old-fashioned, BrE) sport as a lesson or an activity at school

• I always hated games at school.

PART OF SPORTS MATCH

6. countable a section of some games, such as tennis, which forms a unit in scoring

• two games all (= both players have won two games)

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY

7. countable a children's activity when they play with toys, pretend to be sb else, etc

• a game of cops and robbers

FUN

8. countable an activity that you do to have fun

• He was playing games with the dog.

ACTIVITY, BUSINESS

9. countable a type of activity or business
• How long have you been in this game?
• the game of politics
• I'm new to this game myself.
• Getting dirty was all part of the game to the kids.

SECRET PLAN

10. countable (informal) a secret and clever plan; a trick

• So that's his game (= now I know what he has been planning).

WILD ANIMALS/BIRDS

11. uncountable wild animals or birds that people hunt for sport or food

more at beat sb at their own game at beat _v., play (a game of) cat and mouseplay a cat-and-mouse game with sb at cat, fun and games at fun _n., a mug's game at mug _n., the name of the game at name _n., numbers game at number _n., the rules of the game at rule _n., have skin in the game at skin _n., talk a good game at talk _v., (the game is) not worth the candle at worth _adj.
Word Origin:
Old English gamen ‘amusement, fun’, gamenian ‘play, amuse oneself’, of Germanic origin.
Culture:
toys and games
Most young children are given toys for their birthday or at Christmas. Many regularly spend their pocket money or allowance on smaller toys. Popular toys include building bricks such as Lego, plastic farm animals, toy cars, model railways and dressing-up costumes. Girls especially have dolls, and several sets of clothes to dress them in. Action Man figures are mainly for boys and Barbie dolls for girls. Babies are given rattles, soft cuddly toys and a teddy bear. Action figures, small plastic models of characters from television shows or films, are also popular. Some parents do not allow their children to have guns or other ‘violent’ toys because they do not want them to think it is fun to kill people.
Among traditional games that are still popular are marbles, which is played with small, coloured glass balls, board games such as snakes and ladders and ludo, card games such as Happy Families, and word games such as hangman. Board and card games are played with family or friends, but children play alone with computer games or video games.
Many children collect objects, such as shells, model animals, stamps or picture cards. In the US baseball cards, cards with a picture of a baseball player on them, are sold with bubblegum. In Britain picture cards are often given free in packets of breakfast cereal.
Children play outside with skipping ropes, bicycles, skateboards and Rollerblades™. In playgrounds there are often swings, a slide, a see-saw and a climbing frame (AmE jungle gym) to climb on. Traditional games played outside include hopscotch, a game in which children hop over squares drawn on the ground to try to pick up a stone, and tag, in which one child chases the others until he or she catches one of them and then that child has to chase the rest.
Toys are often expensive and, even if they can afford them, many parents are unwilling to spend a lot of money on something that they know their children will soon get bored with. Children want toys they see advertised on television or in comics, or toys that their friends already have. There are sometimes crazes for toys connected with characters from a film.
Few people give up toys and games completely when they become adults. Many keep their old teddy bear for sentimental reasons. There are now also executive toys, made specially for adults to keep on their desks. Many people play card games like bridge and poker, and board games such as Scrabble, Monopoly, backgammon and chess.
Thesaurus:
game noun
1. C
• Chess is a game of skill.
sport •
play/take part in a game/sport
team/competitive games/sports
2. C
• The team is in training for the big game.
especially BrE match • |BrE fixture • • tie • • test (match) •
a game/match/fixture/tie/test against/between/with sb
a/an international/friendly game/match/fixture
a home game/match/fixture/tie/test
an away game/match/fixture/tie
win/lose a game/match/fixture/test/tie
Game or match? Game has a wider range of uses than match. In British English match is used to talk about individual or team sports. In American English match is used for individual sports, but game is used for team sports:
• (BrE) a football match
• (BrE, AmE) a tennis match
• a football game
• a game of football
¤ a match of football
Synonyms:
interest
hobby • game • pastime
These are all words for activities that you do for pleasure in your spare time.
interest • an activity or a subject that you do or study for pleasure in your spare time: ▪ Her main interests are music and gardening.
hobby • an activity that you do for pleasure in your spare time: ▪ His hobbies include swimming and cooking.
game • a children's activity when they play with toys, pretend to be sb else, etc; an activity that you do to have fun: ▪ a game of cops and robbers ◊ ▪ He was playing games with the dog.
pastime • an activity that people do for pleasure in their spare time: ▪ Eating out is the national pastime in France.
interest, hobby or pastime?
A hobby is often more active than an interest: ▪ His main hobby is football ▪ (= he plays football) ▪. ◊ ▪ His main interest is football ▪ (= he watches and reads about football, and may or may not play it) ▪. Pastime is used when talking about people in general; when you are talking about yourself or an individual person it is more usual to use interest or hobby: Eating out is the national interest/hobby in France. ◊ Do you have any pastimes?
a popular interest/hobby/pastime
to have/share interests/hobbies
to take up/pursue a(n) interest/hobby
Example Bank:
• Chicago's bid to host the Olympic Games
• Children love learning new games.
• Don't let him talk to anybody or he'll give the game away.
• He pitched a perfect game at Atlanta.
• He was unwittingly caught up in a dangerous game of lies and betrayals.
• He's hoping to be fit before next week's game with Liverpool.
• Hendry raised his game to become the champion.
• Hendry raised his game to collect the £40 000 first prize.
• How I hated team games at school!
• I realized that he had been playing a stupid game with me.
• I'll soon put an end to her silly little games.
• It's going to be a close game.
• It's hard to find indoor games for children.
• Last night he played the final game of his career.
• Lufthansa entered the game with a 25% stake in the company.
• Shall we have a game of chess?
• She's hoping to participate in the next Olympic Games.
• That girl plays a great game of bridge.
• The Olympic Games are held every four years.
• The company is developing games to play on mobile phones.
• The early stages of the game were dominated by the home team.
• The guys are in training for their big game.
• The team fought back to level the game.
• This is a good game for getting people to mix.
• To pass the time, we played a game of cards.
• Trescothick had a good game and was man of the match.
• Trevor had a good game.
• United are playing a home game this week.
• We won the first game and drew the second.
• a game of tennis
• children's party games like Musical Chairs
• competitive games in which there is always a winner and a loser
• finding good indoor games for children
• the game of life/politics
• their first League game of the season
• this week's game against the Titans
• Chess is a game of skill.
• Davenport won the opening game of the third set.
• Discipline is the rock on which the game of golf is built.
• He's levelled the second set at two games all.
• Predicting the outcome of the election is a game of chance.
• She broke Sharapova's serve in the fourth game of the third set.
• So that's his little game.
• The children invented a new game.
• The defence are coming under pressure for the first time in this game.
• Will he be available for Saturday's game against the Bears?
• ball/card/board/computer/video games

Idioms: a game ▪ back in the game ▪ game is up ▪ game on ▪ give the game away ▪ on the game ▪ only game in town ▪ out of the game ▪ play games ▪ play somebody's game ▪ play the game ▪ two can play at that game ▪ what's your game?

Word Origin:

Old English gamen ‘amusement, fun’, gamenian ‘play, amuse oneself’, of Germanic origin.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

game

[ge͟ɪm]
♦
games
1) N-COUNT A game is an activity or sport usually involving skill, knowledge, or chance, in which you follow fixed rules and try to win against an opponent or to solve a puzzle.
  ...the wonderful game of football.
  ...a playful game of hide-and-seek.
  ...a video game.
2) N-COUNT A game is one particular occasion on which a game is played.
  It was the first game of the season...
  He regularly watched our games from the stands...
  We won three games against Australia.
  Syn:
  match
3) N-COUNT A game is a part of a match, for example in tennis or bridge, consisting of a fixed number of points.
  She won six games to love in the second set.
  ...the last three points of the second game.
4) N-PLURAL Games are an organized event in which competitions in several sports take place.
  ...the 1996 Olympic Games at Atlanta.
5) N-PLURAL Games are organized sports activities that children do at school. [BRIT]
  At his grammar school he is remembered for being bad at games but good in debates.
  Syn:
  sport
6) N-SING: usu poss N Someone's game is the degree of skill or the style that they use when playing a particular game.
  Once I was through the first set my game picked up.
7) N-COUNT You can describe a situation that you do not treat seriously as a game.
  Many people regard life as a game: you win some, you lose some...
  It's a cat-and-mouse game to him, and I'm the mouse.
8) N-COUNT: usu with supp You can use game to describe a way of behaving in which a person uses a particular plan, usually in order to gain an advantage for himself or herself.
  When the uncertainties become greater than the certainties, we end up in a game of bluff...
  Until now, the Americans have been playing a very delicate political game.
9) N-UNCOUNT Wild animals or birds that are hunted for sport and sometimes cooked and eaten are referred to as game.
  As men who shot game for food, they were natural marksmen.
10) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ to-inf, ADJ for n If you are game for something, you are willing to do something new, unusual, or risky.
  After all this time he still had new ideas and was game to try them...
  He said he's game for a similar challenge next year.
11) → See also gamely
12) PHRASE: V inflects If someone or something gives the game away, they reveal a secret or reveal their feelings, and this puts them at a disadvantage.
  The faces of the two conspirators gave the game away!
13) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you are new to a particular game, you have not done a particular activity or been in a particular situation before.
  Don't forget that she's new to this game and will take a while to complete the task.
14) PHRASE: v-link PHR If a man or woman is on the game, he or she is working as a prostitute. [BRIT, INFORMAL]
15) PHRASE: PHR after v If you beat someone at their own game, you use the same methods that they have used, but more successfully, so that you gain an advantage over them.
  He must anticipate the maneuvers of the other lawyers and beat them at their own game...
  The police knew that to trap the killer they had to play him at his own game.
16) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that something is all part of the game, you are telling someone not to be surprised or upset by something, because it is a normal part of the situation that they are in.
  For investors, risks are part of the game.
17) PHRASE: V inflects (disapproval) If you say that someone is playing games or playing silly games, you mean that they are not treating a situation seriously and you are annoyed with them.
  This seemed to annoy Professor Steiner. `Don't play games with me' he thundered...
  From what I know of him he doesn't play silly games.
18) PHRASE If you say that someone has raised their game, you mean that they have begun to perform better, usually because they were under pressure to do so.
  The world No. 9 had to raise his game to see off a strong challenge from Dale...
  As it expands its services around the continent, the competition it offers should force the other airlines to raise their game.
19) PHRASE: V inflects If you say the game is up, you mean that someone's secret plans or activities have been revealed and therefore must stop because they cannot succeed.
  Some thought they would hold out until Sunday. The realists knew that the game was already up.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹game /ˈgeɪm/ noun, pl games
1 [count]
a : a physical or mental activity or contest that has rules and that people do for pleasure
• a card game
• party games [=activities people do at parties for pleasure]
• word games [=games or puzzles that involve words]
• computer games
• poker and other gambling games
• Baseball is my favorite game. [=sport]
b : a particular occurrence of a game
• Do you want to play a game (of tennis/cards)?
• She scored a goal to tie the game.
• They won/lost the game.
• We played a few games of chess.
• That was a good game!
c : one of the games that are part of a larger contest (such as a tennis match)
• She won the first two games, but lost the set and the match.
- see also ball game, board game, fun and games, guessing game, parlor game, perfect game, return game, shell game, video game game of chance at ¹chance game of skill at skill
2 games [plural]
a : playful activities
• children playing at their games
b or Games : an organized series of athletic contests specifically; : the Olympics
• Let the Games begin.
3 a [singular] : the way someone plays in a sport
• They are known to play a very rough game.
• She has a strong all-around game.
• She needs to improve her game if she wants to win the championship.
• Champions can raise/lift their game [=can play better] when they're in danger of losing.
b [count] : a skill that is used in playing a particular game or sport
• a football team with a strong running/passing game
4 [count]
a : an activity that is being compared to a game or contest
• He's a loser in the game of love. [=he is not successful in romantic relationships]
• the game of life
• They're playing a dangerous game by refusing to negotiate.
• He's trying to beat them at their own game. [=he's trying to gain an advantage over them by using the same methods that they use]
• the mating game [=the effort to find a sexual partner]
- see also waiting game, war game the name of the game at ¹name
b : a type of work : a business or profession
• She's spent the last 30 years in the newspaper game.
• the money game
• the fight game [=professional boxing]
- see also war game
5 [count] : something that is not meant to be taken seriously
• Politics for her is just a game.
• Was our entire relationship just a game to you?
6 [count] : a usually dishonest or unfair plan for doing something
• I've seen through your little game and I know what you're really after!
• What's his game? [=what is his real reason for doing the things he is doing?]
✦To give the game away is to make a secret plan or activity known.
• We can't let him know anything about it. He's too likely to give the game away.
✦If the game is up, a dishonest plan or activity has been discovered and will no longer be allowed to continue.
• Okay, the game is up. [=the jig is up] We know you forged the letters.
7 [noncount] : animals that are hunted
• wild game
• small game
- often used before another noun
• a game bird/fish [=a bird or fish that may be legally hunted or caught]
• a game preserve [=an area of land in which hunting and fishing are carefully controlled]
• a game warden [=a person who makes sure that hunting and fishing laws are obeyed]
- often used figuratively
• The police aren't interested in these small-time drug dealers; they're after much bigger game.
- see also big game
ahead of the game : in a position or situation in which you are likely to succeed, win, etc.
• The company has stayed ahead of the game by meeting new government standards before they go into effect.
early/late in the game : at an early/late time in a game or sport
• She scored a goal early in the game. [=near the beginning of the game]
- often used figuratively
• It's too late in the game to change the date of the meeting. [=it's no longer reasonable to change the date; the meeting is too soon for the date to be changed]
• She got into the computer industry early in the game. [=when the industry was new]
got game
✦In informal U.S. English, someone who has got game is very good at playing a particular game or sport, such as basketball.
head/mind games : actions that are meant to confuse or upset someone in order to get an advantage
• I couldn't handle the head games that came with the job anymore.
• She's known for playing mind games with her opponents.
on the game Brit informal : working as a prostitute
• I didn't know she was on the game.
on/off your game
✦If you are on your game, you are playing a sport or game well; if you are off your game, you are playing poorly.
• She's really on her game tonight. [=she's playing very well]
• Sorry I missed that shot. I'm off my game today. [=I'm not playing as well as I usually do] These phrases are also used figuratively.
• He seemed a little off his game during the sales presentation this morning.
play games
1 : to treat someone in a dishonest or unfair way in order to get an advantage
• Stop playing games (with me) and tell me what really happened!
• I'm trying to be honest with you. I'm not interested in playing games.
2 : to behave in a way that is not serious
• Let's stop playing games and get down to business.
the only game in town : the only available, desirable, or valuable thing
• For serious home cooks, this stove is the only game in town. [=it is the only stove that serious home cooks should want to have]
• Our company is no longer the only game in town. [=we now have competition; another company/business is doing what we do]