playful
English meaning: Playful
Definition
Fond of games and amusement; lighthearted.
Example
“The playful kitten chased the ball.”
Another example: “With a playful grin, she hid his keys behind the curtain.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A positive adjective meaning lighthearted and fond of fun; neutral register, used of people, animals, moods, and remarks (a playful tone, a playful kitten). Used attributively and predicatively.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From 'play', from Old English 'plega', plus '-ful'.
Synonyms
- lighthearted
- fun-loving
- frolicsome
- puckish
- impish
- roguish
- teasing
- mischievous
- frisky
- quizzical
- mocking
- elfin
Antonyms / Opposites
- serious
- solemn
- sober
Related Words
- banter
- teasing
- mischievous
- affectionate
- whimsical
- inventive
- witty
- ironic
- pluto
- wit
- energetic
- humour
Common Collocations
- playful mood
- playful banter
- playful kitten
- playful tone
Word Forms
play (n/v); playful (adj); playfully (adv); playfulness (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B