playful

adjective

play·ful ˈplā-fəl

Synonyms of playful

: full of play : frolicsome, sportive

a playful kitten

: humorous, jocular

playfully

ˈplā-fə-lē

adverb

playfulness noun

Examples of playful in a Sentence

She's an old dog, but she's still very playful. He had a playful expression on his face. a playful tone of voice You're certainly in a playful mood! She gave him a light playful slap on the knee.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Through his many aliases, like ICQ Baby and DJ LHC, the producer and DJ has experimented with various electronic sounds, mixing hyperpop and breakbeat into his own playful aesthetic. — Amanda Cavalcanti, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026 The years when furniture can be unapologetically playful don’t last forever. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 31 July 2026 Iosseliani’s poetic portraits of life on the Soviet periphery range from neorealist documentation of collective farms to playful snapshots of Tbilisi, with a light touch reminiscent of the French New Wave. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 31 July 2026 Layer contrasting tanks, add playful socks to your favorite sneakers, or reach for bold statement earrings. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for playful

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of playful was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playful. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

playful

adjective

play·ful ˈplā-fəl

: full of play : fond of playing

a playful kitten

: humorous

a playful tone of voice

playfully

-fə-lē

adverb

playfulness noun

playful

adjective

Synonyms of playful

Examples of playful in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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