an amusement or pastime
"they played word games"
"he thought of his painting as a game that filled his empty time"
"his life was all fun and games"
animal hunted for food or sport
"The hunters carefully tracked the deer through the woods before successfully bringing down their game."
(tennis) a division of play during which one player serves
"She won the first game by serving six times without letting her opponent touch the ball."
(games) the score at a particular point or the score needed to win
"the game is 6 all"
"he is serving for the game"
the flesh of wild animals that is used for food
"The hunters spent the afternoon preparing a fresh deer game over an open fire."
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
"they concocted a plot to discredit the governor"
"I saw through his little game from the start"
the game equipment needed in order to play a particular game
"the child received several games for his birthday"
frivolous or trifling behavior
"for actors, memorizing lines is no game"
"for him, life is all fun and games"
A playful or competitive activity.
"The kids spent their afternoon playing an outdoor game of tag in the park."
A playful activity that may be unstructured; an amusement or pastime.
"The kids spent the afternoon playing a simple game of tag in the backyard without any rules."
In plain English: A game is an activity with rules that people play for fun or competition.
"The children spent the afternoon playing a game of tag in the park."
Usage: Use "game" to describe any recreational activity involving rules and competition, such as board games or sports. It refers broadly to pastimes where participants strive to win according to established guidelines.
To gamble.
"He decided not to play poker tonight since he was already running out of money and didn't want to game his savings away."
In plain English: To play around with something without trying to win or finish it properly.
"We will game the new video release next weekend."
Usage: To game someone means to cheat or deceive them during a contest or activity, not to gamble with money. Use this verb only when describing unfair play rather than placing bets.
Willing to participate.
"The old dog limped away after catching his paw in the trap and leaving it game from the injury."
Injured, lame (of a limb).
In plain English: When something is described as game, it means you are ready and willing to do what needs to be done without backing down.
"The game plan changed after they scored the first point."
Usage: Use "game" as an adjective to describe a body part that is injured, stiff, or difficult to move. This usage is now considered archaic and should be avoided in modern writing in favor of clearer terms like "lame" or "injured."
The word game comes from Old English gamen, meaning sport or amusement. Its roots trace back to Proto-Germanic *gamaną, which literally meant "participation" or "people together."