by-play

noun

Action carried on aside, commonly in dumb show, while the main action proceeds; action not intended to be observed by some of the persons present.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounby-play (countable and uncountable, plural by-plays)

plural by-plays · alternative byplay

  1. countableuncountableentertainmentAction carried on aside, commonly in dumb show, while the main action proceeds; action not intended to be observed by some of the persons present.

Origin

From by- + play.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

by-play. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by-play

MLA

“by-play.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by-play. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “by-play,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by-play.

Source: by-play on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.