collocation · informal
play sports
UK/pleɪ spɔːrts/US/pleɪ spɔrts/PLAY SPORTS
To take part in sporting activities (e.g. football, basketball) for fun or competition.
Examples
“On weekends I like to play sports with my friends at the park.”
“Many schools encourage pupils to play sports to stay healthy.”
“She used to play sports competitively in college.”
Band 8 sentence
“Although I don't play sports competitively anymore, I still enjoy joining a casual football match at the weekend.”
Collocations
- play team sports
- play competitive sports
Word family
Common mistakes
do sports→play sports
play the sports→play sports
I am playing sport yesterday.→I played sports yesterday.
Say it for a higher band
5do sports→6play a sport→7+play sports
Synonyms
take part in sports
Easily confused
do exercise
“I do exercise every morning to stay fit.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Sport & Exercise
Learn it with its set