game

I UK [ɡeɪm] / US noun
Word forms "game":
singular game plural games
***

1)

a) [countable] an activity that you do for fun that has rules, and that you can win or lose

Monopoly is a game for all the family.

card/board/party game:

Do you know any good party games?

computer/video game:

The kids all love playing computer games.

b) an activity that children do for fun that may not have rules or a winner

The children were playing noisy games in the garden.

2)

a) [countable, usually singular] a type of sport

They take the game of cricket very seriously here.

b) the way that someone plays a sport

He has trained hard to improve his game.

the English/Italian etc game (= the way a sport, usually football, is played in England, Italy etc):

Hard tackling is part of the English game.

3)

a) [countable] a particular event in which people take part in a competition

He won the money in a poker game.

Are you going to watch the game on TV tonight?

game of:

Let's have a game of volleyball.

b) one of the series of separate parts that make up a particular event in some sports, such as tennis

He won the first set 6 games to 4.

4) games

[plural] an organized event where people from many countries compete in different sports such as running, jumping, and swimming

the Olympic Games

5) games

[singular] British organized sports that children play at school

Miss Plumtree takes us for games.

6) [countable] an activity or situation that someone seems to be treating less seriously than it should be treated

Marriage is just a game to them.

They are playing political games with people's safety.

7) [countable, usually singular] an activity or type of work that is like a game, for example because it has rules that you must follow

In this business, you have to know the rules of the game.

He worked in the building game all his life.

8) [uncountable] wild animals, birds, and fish that people hunt, usually for food

•

beat/play someone at their own game — to do better at an activity than someone who has a reputation for being very good at it

Hollywood did not enjoy being beaten by the British at its own game.

what's your/his/her game? — spoken used for asking someone what their true intentions are when you think they are not being honest

- ahead of the game

- all part of the game

- a game of chance

- the game is up

- give the game away

- it's a game of two halves

- on the game

- the only game in town

See:

ball game, board game, fair game, name I

II UK [ɡeɪm] / US adjective

1) prepared to join in with or to try a new, difficult, or dangerous activity

He is such good fun – always game for anything.

2) old-fashioned a game knee or leg sometimes feels stiff or sore, often because of an old injury

Derived word:
gamely
adverb