play-by-play
adjective
ˈplā-ˌbī-ˌplā 
ˌplā-ˌbī-ˈplā
1
: being or giving a running commentary on a sports event
a radio play-by-play announcer
2
: relating each event as it occurs
play-by-play
noun
Examples of play-by-play in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
He’ll be joined in the booth by his play-by-play partner, Kevin Burkhardt.
—
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
As faux-broadcasters played by Chevy Chase and Jane Curtain did play-by-play coverage over stock footage of actual skiing wipeouts, the sound of a gunshot was overdubbed just as the athletes fell.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Trent Rush, who had worked mostly on Angels radio, will take over as the backup television play-by-play man, working the games when Wayne Randazzo is not available.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
By this point, Jarrín was firmly in place as the team’s lead Spanish-language play-by-play announcer — particularly in the wake of Fernandomania the season before, when Jarrín’s profile was raised as Fernando Valenzuela‘s interpreter during his media interviews.
—Ed Guzman, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
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Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
As faux-broadcasters played by Chevy Chase and Jane Curtain did play-by-play coverage over stock footage of actual skiing wipeouts, the sound of a gunshot was overdubbed just as the athletes fell.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Trent Rush, who had worked mostly on Angels radio, will take over as the backup television play-by-play man, working the games when Wayne Randazzo is not available.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
By this point, Jarrín was firmly in place as the team’s lead Spanish-language play-by-play announcer — particularly in the wake of Fernandomania the season before, when Jarrín’s profile was raised as Fernando Valenzuela‘s interpreter during his media interviews.
—Ed Guzman, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for play-by-play
Cite this Entry
“Play-by-play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play-by-play. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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