playful

  • 1playful — playful, frolicsome, sportive, roguish, waggish, impish, mischievous mean given to play, jests, or tricks or indicative of such a disposition or mood. Playful stresses either lighthearted gaiety or merriment {playful children} {in a playful mood} …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 2Playful — Play ful, a. Sportive; gamboling; frolicsome; indulging a sportive fancy; humorous; merry; as, a playful child; a playful writer. {Play ful*ly}, adv. {Play ful*ness}, n. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3playful — index jocular Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 4playful — (adj.) mid 13c., from PLAY (Cf. play) (v.) + FUL (Cf. ful). Related: Playfully; playfulness …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5playful — [adj] funny, fun loving antic, blithe, cheerful, coltish*, comical, elvish*, feeling one’s oats*, flirtatious, frisky, frolicsome, full of pep*, gamesome, gay, good natured, impish, jaunty, jesting, jocund, joking, joyous, lighthearted, lively,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 6playful — ► ADJECTIVE 1) fond of games and amusement. 2) intended for amusement; light hearted. DERIVATIVES playfully adverb playfulness noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7playful — [plā′fəl] adj. 1. fond of play or fun; frisky 2. said or done in fun; jocular playfully adv. playfulness n …

    English World dictionary

  • 8playful — [[t]ple͟ɪfʊl[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED A playful gesture or person is friendly or humorous. ...a playful kiss on the tip of his nose. ...a playful fight... Her manner is playful and girlish. Derived words: playfully ADV GRADED She pushed him away… …

    English dictionary

  • 9playful — play|ful [ˈpleıfəl] adj 1.) very active, happy, and wanting to have fun ▪ a playful little dog ▪ Babies are playful and alert when they first wake up. 2.) intended to be fun rather than serious, or showing that you are having fun ▪ a playful kiss …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10playful — play|ful [ pleıfl ] adjective 1. ) lively and full of fun: playful kittens She was in a playful mood. 2. ) intended to be funny or friendly rather than serious: He gave her a playful pat on the back. ╾ play|ful|ly adverb: She nudged him playfully …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English