English

Pronunciation

• AHD: /gām/
• IPA: /ɡeɪm/, SAMPA: /geIm/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -eɪm

Noun

game (countable and uncountable; plural games)

1. (countable) A pursuit or activity with rules performed either alone or with others, for the purpose of entertainment.

   Shall we play a game?

2. (in plural games) Sport played in a lesson at school.
3. (uncountable) Wild animals hunted for food.

   The forest has plenty of game.

4. (countable) The entire being of an industry, activity or profession.

   When it comes to making sales, John is the best in the game.

Synonyms

• (activity performed for entertainment): pastime, play, recreation, frolic, sport, diversion, fun, amusement, merriment, festivity, entertainment, spree, prank, lark, gambol, merrymaking, gaiety

Antonyms

• (activity performed for entertainment): drudgery, work, toil, sadness, labor, uneasiness, grief, sorrow

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

game (comparative gamer, superlative gamest)

1. Willing to participate.

   I'm game, would you like to tell me how [to do that]? - From the computer game Adventure.

Synonyms

• (willing to participate): sporting, willing, daring, disposed, favorable, nervy, courageous, valiant

Antonyms

• (willing to participate): cautious, disinclined

Translations

Verb

to game (third-person singular simple present games, present participle gaming, simple past and past participle gamed)

1. (intransitive) To gamble.
2. (intransitive) To play games and be a gamer.
3. (transitive) To use a system or bureaucracy in a way which defeats or nullifies the rules in effect, usually to obtain a result which otherwise would be unobtainable.

   We'll bury them in paperwork, and game the system.

Derived terms

• game the system

Translations

to gamble See gamble

Anagrams

• mage

See also

• play