playground
PLAYG-rownd
Playground (noun) means an outdoor area, often with swings and slides, set aside for children to play. Example: “The kids raced straight to the swings when we reached the playground.”
noun
1
An outdoor area, often with swings and slides, set aside for children to play.
"The kids raced straight to the swings when we reached the playground."
"The school built a new playground with a climbing frame."
"Parents gathered by the school playground to collect their children at half past three."
2
Any place or situation where someone is free to act however they like, without much restriction.
"For hackers, an open network is a playground."
"For a curious toddler, a cupboard full of saucepans is the ultimate playground."
"The empty warehouse became a playground for the artists, who painted whatever they wished."
3
A sandbox environment for testing code against an API.
"You can try out the API calls in the developer playground before writing real code."
"Use the playground to send a test request and see the response before you build."
"The documentation includes a playground where you can experiment with the endpoints safely."
How to use playground
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA space — physical or figurative — set aside for free play or experimentation.
Common pairings
school playground
API playground
adult playground
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Word forms
- Plural
- playgrounds
Fill the gap
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The kids raced straight to the swings when we reached the _____.
Etymology
From play + ground, echoing the older Old English pleġstede ("play-place").
Synonyms
View more →
play area
sandbox
Related words
Rhymes for playground
See all rhymes for playground →Frequently asked questions
What does “playground” mean?
The word “playground” means an outdoor area, often with swings and slides, set aside for children to play. In plain terms, a space — physical or figurative — set aside for free play or experimentation.
How do you pronounce “playground”?
“Playground” is pronounced PLAYG-rownd (/ˈpleɪɡɹaʊnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “playground” in a sentence?
Here is “playground” used in a sentence: “The kids raced straight to the swings when we reached the playground.”
What part of speech is “playground”?
“Playground” is a noun.
Where does the word “playground” come from?
The word “playground” comes from Old English. From play + ground, echoing the older Old English pleġstede ("play-place").
Is “playground” a common word?
“Playground” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “playground” have?
“Playground” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an outdoor area, often with swings and slides, set aside for children to play.
What is the difference between a playground and a park?
A playground is a specific outdoor area equipped with items like swings and slides, set aside for children to play. A park is a broader green space that may include a playground alongside other features such as paths, gardens, or open fields.
What does it mean to call something a "playground" figuratively?
Figuratively, calling a place or situation a playground means it offers freedom to act however one likes with little restriction, such as describing an unregulated market as "a playground for speculators." This use extends the idea of a children's play area to any setting with few limits.
What does "playground" mean in a programming context?
In software development, a playground is a sandbox environment used for testing code, often against an API, without affecting live systems. It lets developers experiment safely before deploying changes to production.
