gameplay

noun

game·​play ˈgām-ˌplā 

variants or game play

plural gameplays or game plays

1

: the characteristic way in which the action of a game (such as a video game) occurs or is experienced

Each game is cleanly done with smooth gameplay and colorful graphics.

—Joe Hindy

Featuring intuitive and addictive gameplay, the game is a lovely distraction from the troubles of the day.

—Amy Davidson

The unique game play led to players adopting all sorts of interesting strategies for getting a high score.

—Jeff Fulton and Steve Fulton

2

: the practice or activity of playing games (such as board games, card games, or video games) : gaming sense 2

Unlike the vast majority of previous studies on the effect of video games on wellbeing, the Oxford team were able to track actual gameplay, rather than relying on self-reported estimates.

—Alex Hern

While not all card shufflers operate more quickly than manual shuffling, in general, a card shuffler speeds up gameplay.

—Allen Foster

… a gaming chair that also massages your back, features an adjustable headrest and has an ergonomic design that allows for hours and hours of game play.

—Heather Quinlan

Examples of gameplay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Microsoft provided examples of developers inserting images of new in-game objects or characters into pre-existing gameplay footage. —Ars Technica, 19 Feb. 2025

In Muse’s case, the program can only render gameplay sequences at a low 300-by-180 resolution over several minutes, resulting in some garbled graphics. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 19 Feb. 2025

Chastain appeared on the first season of The Traitors, her dry wit and hilarious disinterest in gameplay helping make the show a success (and landing her in fifth place). —Dave Quinn, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025

Three years after Joy Behar took a tumble as the victim of a maniacal swivel chair, Whoopi Goldberg introduced a new gameplay obstacle to The View's virtual battle royale arena of a set. —EW.com, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for gameplay

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway