game
GAYM
Game (noun) means an activity played for entertainment or competition, following a set of rules. Example: “The kids invented a new game using just a ball and some chalk.”
noun
1
An activity played for entertainment or competition, following a set of rules.
"The kids invented a new game using just a ball and some chalk."
"They watched the football game together every Sunday."
"We played a board game by candlelight when the power went out."
2
Wild animals hunted for food or sport.
"The lodge served game such as venison and pheasant."
"The butcher sold rabbit and other game during the autumn months."
"Hunters in the forest were looking for game such as deer."
adj
1
Willing and ready to take part in something, especially something risky or new.
"I'm game for trying that new restaurant if you are."
"I'm game if you want to try the climbing wall tomorrow."
"Grandad is always game for a long walk, whatever the weather."
2
Showing determination to keep going despite injury or difficulty.
"Even with a twisted ankle, she stayed game until the final whistle."
"The old goalkeeper was still game, even after a heavy fall."
"Though exhausted, the runners stayed game and finished the course."
verb
1
To manipulate or exploit the rules of a system for personal advantage.
"Some companies game the tax code to avoid paying their fair share."
"Some players game the ranking system by creating fake accounts."
"Students sometimes try to game the marking scheme instead of learning properly."
How to use game
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCan mean a structured activity played for fun or competition, or (as an adjective) being willing to try something.
Common mistake
"Game" as an adjective meaning "willing" ("I'm game") is informal — don't use it in formal writing.
Common pairings
play a game
game for it
game the system
a game leg
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- games
- Past tense
- gamed
- Comparative
- gamer, more game
- Superlative
- gamest, most game
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kids invented a new _____ using just a ball and some chalk.
Etymology
From Old English gamen, meaning "sport, joy, amusement" — related to "gammon" and "gamble".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for game
See all rhymes for game →Frequently asked questions
What does “game” mean?
The word “game” means an activity played for entertainment or competition, following a set of rules. In plain terms, can mean a structured activity played for fun or competition, or (as an adjective) being willing to try something.
How do you pronounce “game”?
“Game” is pronounced GAYM (/ˈɡeɪ̯m/ in IPA).
How do you use “game” in a sentence?
Here is “game” used in a sentence: “The kids invented a new game using just a ball and some chalk.”
What part of speech is “game”?
Depending on how it is used, “game” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “game” come from?
The word “game” comes from Old English. From Old English gamen, meaning "sport, joy, amusement" — related to "gammon" and "gamble".
Is “game” a common word?
“Game” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “game” have?
“Game” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an activity played for entertainment or competition, following a set of rules.
What is the difference between a game and a sport?
Every sport is a kind of game, but not every game is a sport. A sport usually demands physical exertion and skill — football, tennis, swimming. A game is any rule-based activity for fun or competition, including card games, board games and video games, many of which need little physical effort.
What are the main types of games?
Games fall into several broad groups: board games like chess, card games like poker, video games played on screens, and physical games and sports played with the body. Others include word games, party games and games of pure chance. What unites them is an agreed set of rules and a goal.
What is an example of a game?
Chess is a classic example: two players follow fixed rules to try to checkmate each other. Other everyday games include football, snakes and ladders, poker and hide-and-seek. Each has players, rules and a way to win or finish, which is what makes it a game rather than free play.
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