game
/ɡeɪm/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A game is an activity or sport with rules, played for fun, competition, or exercise. It can also mean a single match or round of that activity.
- We played a game of chess after dinner.
- India won the game yesterday.
- This game has very simple rules.
adjective
If someone is game, they are willing to do something challenging, unusual, or risky. This use is informal.
- She is game for another hike.
- Are you game to try it?
- He was game, even in the rain.
verb
In informal use, game means to play games, especially on a computer or phone.
- He games every evening.
- My brother is gaming online now.
- They game together on weekends.
Adinary Nuance
Game is broader than sport. Use game for chess, cards, board games, and one match in football or cricket. Use sport for physical athletic activities in general. It is also more general than play because a game usually has rules and a winner.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- trò chơi
- Spanish
- juego
- Chinese
- 游戏
- Japanese
- ゲーム
- Korean
- 게임
Etymology
Game comes from Old English gamen, meaning 'joy' or 'fun'. Over time, it came to mean a play activity with rules, and later any competitive sport or match.
Common phrases
board gamevideo gamegame of chancefair game
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'game' the same as 'sport'?
- No. A game is a specific activity or match. A sport is a broader athletic activity.
- Can I say 'game' for cricket or football?
- Yes. You can say 'a game of cricket' or 'the game last night'.
- Is 'game' formal or informal?
- The noun is very common and neutral. The adjective 'game' is informal.
- What does 'game for it' mean?
- It means willing to try something, even if it is difficult or unusual.