Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *gamaną
Proto-West Germanic *gaman
Old English gamen
Middle English game
English game
From Middle English game, gamen, gammen, from Old English gamen (“sport, joy, mirth, pastime, game, amusement, pleasure”), from Proto-West Germanic *gaman, from Proto-Germanic *gamaną (“amusement, pleasure, game", literally "participation, communion, people together”), from *ga- (collective prefix) + *mann- (“man”); or alternatively from *ga- + a root from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think, have in mind”).
Cognate with Yola gaame, gaaume, gaume (“game”), Old Frisian game, gome (“joy, amusement, entertainment”), Dutch gemelijk (“cantankerous, crabbed”), Middle High German gamen (“joy, amusement, fun, pleasure”), Danish gammen (“merriment”), Icelandic, Norwegian Nynorsk gaman (“joy, fun”), Swedish gamman (“mirth, rejoicing, merriment”). Related to gammon, gamble.
Meanings
(colloquial) Willing and able to participate.
One Friday when I jumped into my barber’s chair to get a trim, she suggested I try a jheri curl. I was game, despite the fact that most of the women I knew hated jheri curls on men and called men who wore them “bamas,” a term short for Alabamas, which meant real country. 2003 August, E. Lynn Harris, chapter 9, in What Becomes of the Brokenhearted: A Memoir, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, →ISBN, pages 126–127:
"[…] But what’s this long face about, Mr. Starbuck; wilt thou not chase the white whale? art not game for Moby Dick?” 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 36, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 180:
Some of Grimsby’s other (extraordinarily up-to-date) targets include Donald Trump and Daniel Radcliffe, whose fates here are too breath-catchingly cruel to spoil, and also the admirably game Strong, whose character is beset by a constant stream of humiliations that hit with the force of a jet of…well, you’ll see. 2016 February 23, Robbie Collin, “Grimsby review: ' Sacha Baron Cohen's vital, venomous action movie'”, in The Daily Telegraph (London):
(of an animal) That shows a tendency to continue to fight against another animal, despite being wounded, often severely.
Persistent, especially in senses similar to the above.
scn cumminciutu (willing to participate) · bg охотен (willing to participate) · cs svolný (willing to participate) · scn cummintu (willing to participate) · hu szívesen (willing to participate) · is með (willing to participate) · gl afouto (willing to participate) · sv på (willing to participate) · cs ochotný (willing to participate) · cy gêm (willing to participate) · cs připravený (willing to participate) · no med (willing to participate) · es lúdico (willing to participate) · sv med (willing to participate) · hu van kedve (willing to participate) · de dabei (willing to participate) · hu szeretne (willing to participate) · de bereit (willing to participate) · pt dentro (willing to participate) · hu benne van (willing to participate)
Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *gamaną
Proto-West Germanic *gaman
Old English gamen
Middle English game
English game
From Middle English game, gamen, gammen, from Old English gamen (“sport, joy, mirth, pastime, game, amusement, pleasure”), from Proto-West Germanic *gaman, from Proto-Germanic *gamaną (“amusement, pleasure, game", literally "participation, communion, people together”), from *ga- (collective prefix) + *mann- (“man”); or alternatively from *ga- + a root from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think, have in mind”).
Cognate with Yola gaame, gaaume, gaume (“game”), Old Frisian game, gome (“joy, amusement, entertainment”), Dutch gemelijk (“cantankerous, crabbed”), Middle High German gamen (“joy, amusement, fun, pleasure”), Danish gammen (“merriment”), Icelandic, Norwegian Nynorsk gaman (“joy, fun”), Swedish gamman (“mirth, rejoicing, merriment”). Related to gammon, gamble.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ A playful activity that may be unstructured; an amusement or pastime.
Being a child is all fun and games.
(countable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ An activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment, often competitive or having an explicit goal.
Games in the classroom can make learning fun.
Joshua: Shall we play a game?
David: ... Love to. How about Global Thermonuclear War?
Joshua: Wouldn't you prefer a good game of chess?
David: Later. Let's play Global Thermonuclear War.
Joshua: Fine. 1983, Lawrence Lasker et al., WarGames:
(UK, countable, in-plural, uncountable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ A school subject during which sports are practised.
From time to time tracksuited boys ran past them, with all the deadly purpose and humourless concentration of those who enjoyed Games. 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section III, page 26:
(countable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ A particular instance of playing a game.
They can turn the game around in the second half.
“I'm through with all pawn-games,” I laughed. “Come, let us have a game of lansquenet. Either I will take a farewell fall out of you or you will have your sevenfold revenge”. 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter I, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
Sally won the game.
(countable, uncountable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ Part of a set during which one player continuously serves (at least four rallies must be won to win a game, at least six games must be won to win the set).
Game, set and match!
(countable, uncountable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ That which is gained, such as the stake in a game.
(countable, uncountable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ The number of points necessary to win a game.
In short whist, five points are game, while in in table tennis game is 21 points.
See also: for the win
(countable, uncountable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ In some games, a point awarded to the player whose cards add up to the largest sum.
(countable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ The equipment that enables such activity, particularly as packaged under a title.
Some of the games in the closet we have on the computer as well.
(countable, uncountable) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ One's manner, style, or performance in playing a game.
I played golf with her that same afternoon. She lost eight balls, I remember. Eight. I had a terrible time getting her to at least open her eyes when she took a swing at the ball. I improved her game immensely, though. 1951 July 16, J[erome] D[avid] Salinger, chapter 11, in The Catcher in the Rye, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC:
Study can help your game of chess.
Hit the gym if you want to toughen up your game.
(abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis) A playful or competitive activity. ▸ Ellipsis of video game.
There’s a sense here, as well as in games such as Limbo, that we’re making ourselves experience our children’s reality, trapped in the chaos that the adults have created. 2019 May 8, Jon Bailes, “Save yourself! The video games casting us as helpless children”, in The Guardian:
(countable, informal, singular, usually) A field of gainful activity, as an industry or profession.
He's in the securities game somehow.
When it comes to making sales, John is the best in the game.
(countable, informal, singular, uncountable, usually, with the) A field of gainful activity, as an industry or profession. ▸ The music industry.
The rapper bragged about how he ran the game.
(countable, figuratively) Something that resembles a game with rules, despite not being designed.
I ſee you ſtand like Grey-hounds in the ſlips, / Straying vpon the Start. The Game’s afoot: 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 77, column 2:
In the game of life, you may find yourself playing the waiting game far too often.
“I'm through with all pawn-games,” I laughed. “Come, let us have a game of lansquenet. Either I will take a farewell fall out of you or you will have your sevenfold revenge”. 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter I, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
Hidden behind thickets of acronyms and gorse bushes of detail, a new great game is under way across the globe. Some call it geoeconomics, but it's geopolitics too. 2013 July 19, Timothy Garton Ash, “Where Dr Pangloss meets Machiavelli”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 18:
(countable) An exercise simulating warfare, whether computerized or involving human participants.
(countable) A questionable or unethical practice in pursuit of a goal.
Your murderous game is nearly up. 1845, Blackwood Magazine:
It was obviously Lord Macaulay's game to blacken the greatest literary champion of the cause he had set himself to attack. 1902, George Saintsbury, Dryden, page 182:
You want to borrow my credit card for a week? What's your game?
(uncountable) Wild animals hunted for food.
The forest has plenty of game.
I had known the President several years before he became famous, and we had had some correspondence on subjects of natural history. His interest in such themes is always very fresh and keen, and the main motive of his visit to the Park at this time was to see and study in its semi-domesticated condition the great game which he had so often hunted during his ranch days; and he was kind enough to think it would be an additional pleasure to see it with a nature-lover like myself. 1907, John Burroughs, Camping & Tramping with Roosevelt, Houghton Mifflin Company, →OCLC, pages 5–6:
(countable, uncountable) A flock of swans, especially as kept for hunting purposes (or, originally, a group of any animals kept for such purpose).
A game of swans flew there and the water and the shore beneath were fouled with their greenwhite slime. 1916, James Joyce, chapter V, in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, New York, N.Y.: B[enjamin] W. Huebsch, →OCLC:
(informal, uncountable, used mostly for men) The ability to seduce or woo someone, usually by strategy.
She's strange, so strange, but I didn't complain / She said yes to me when I ran my game 1998, “She's Strange”, performed by Nate Dogg:
He didn't get anywhere with her because he had no game.
(countable, slang, uncountable) Prostitution. (Now chiefly in on the game.)
ſet them downe, / For ſlottiſh ſpoyles of opportunitie; / And daughters of the game. c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v], lines 61–63:
[H]e put spurs to his horse, and just in the twilight reached the gate, where, at that time, there happened to be two ladies of the game [translating mugeres moças], who being on their journey to Seville, with the carriers, had chanced to take up their night's lodging in this place. 1755, Miguel de Cervantes, translated by Tobias Smollett, Don Quixote, Volume 1, I.2:
(slang, uncountable) Mastery; the ability to excel at something.
In the contemporary arts of the academic contact zone, I say African American students got game! 2005, Kermit Ernest Campbell, Gettin' Our Groove on: Rhetoric, Language, and Literacy for the Hip Hop Generation, →ISBN, page 123:
What is game? Who got game? / Where's the game in life, behind the game behind the game / I got game, she's got game / We got game, they got game, he got game 1998, “He Got Game”, performed by Public Enemy:
My dad had game at that kind of thing, and I spent long periods as a child watching him. 2009, Michael Marshall, Bad Things, →ISBN, page 24:
(archaic, uncountable) Diversion, entertainment.
To ſet the minde on the racke of long meditation (you ſay) is a torment: to follow the ſwift foote of your hound alday long, hath no wearineſſe: what would you ſay of him that finds better game in his ſtudie, then you in the fielde, and would account your diſport his puniſhment? ſuch there are, though you doubt and wonder. 1611, Joseph Hall, “Epistle VIII. To E.B. Dedicated to Sir George Goring.”, in Epistles […], volume III, London: […] [William Stansby and William Jaggard] for Samuell Macham, […], →OCLC, 5th decade, pages 95–96:
ceb dula (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · hu játék (particular instance of playing a game; match) · enm game (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment) · fi peli (something that resembles a game with rules) · mi kēmu (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · as খেল (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi leikki (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · kk ойын (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · zza qequbro (wild animals hunted for food) · ca caça (wild animals hunted for food) · sl partija (particular instance of playing a game; match) · gl xogo (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · nb spill (particular instance of playing a game; match) · sh lȍvina (wild animals hunted for food) · hy որս (wild animals hunted for food) · my အားကစား (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · es partido (particular instance of playing a game; match) · sv lek (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · bal لیب (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · avd وازی (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · lv spēle (particular instance of playing a game; match) · nn spel (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ia joco (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ps بازي (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ml കളി (amorous dalliance) · nb vilt (wild animals hunted for food) · cs hra (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · cs hra (equipment that enables such activity, particularly as packaged under a title) · fa بَازِی (particular instance of playing a game; match) · el παιχνίδι (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ru матч (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ba уйын (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi peli (questionable, unethical, or illegal practice) · luy kumwinya (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi taito (mastery; the ability to excel at something) · ja ジビエ (wild animals hunted for food) · cs zvěř (wild animals hunted for food) · fi sotaharjoitus (exercise simulating warfare) · ast xuegu (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ota لعبت (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sv villebråd (wild animals hunted for food) · bn খেলা (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · lv miesla (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ca joc (particular instance of playing a game; match) · pt videojogo (video game — see also video game) · ta விளையாட்டு (particular instance of playing a game; match) · nl match (particular instance of playing a game; match) · zh 比賽 /比赛 (particular instance of playing a game; match) · sq lojë (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi peli (that which is gained, such as the stake in a game) · ru игра́ (particular instance of playing a game; match) · mk игра (particular instance of playing a game; match) · nl wild (wild animals hunted for food) · de Videospiel (video game — see also video game) · bal لعب (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ru игра́ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sv byte (wild animals hunted for food) · nl spel (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sh dȉvljāč (wild animals hunted for food) · la lūdus (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ar لعب (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · bo རྩེད་མོ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ko 수렵물 (wild animals hunted for food) · uk дичина́ (wild animals hunted for food) · ckt увичвын (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · de Wettstreit (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ug ئويۇن (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · mr खेळ (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment) · da spil (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · lv spēle (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · wym śpejł (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · rsk бависко (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fur zûc (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sa क्रीडा (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · enm game (wild animals hunted for food) · de Match (particular instance of playing a game; match) · sl tekma (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · wa djeu (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · hu vad (wild animals hunted for food) · et jahiuluk (wild animals hunted for food) · fur ğûc (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · pal 𐭥𐭠𐭦𐭩𐭢 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · jv dolanan (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sh ìgra (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fo leikur (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · th กีฬา (particular instance of playing a game; match) · mk меч (particular instance of playing a game; match) · es tener tilín (ability to successfully seduce someone — see also charisma, charm) · da vildt (wild animals hunted for food) · de Spiel (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · he מִשְׂחָק (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · hy խաղ (particular instance of playing a game; match) · io vildo (wild animals hunted for food) · yi שפּיל (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ckb وازی (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi ala (field of an industry or profession) · ja 遊戯 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · pl gra (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment) · fr partie (particular instance of playing a game; match) · mk игра (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · scn jocu (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fr jeu vidéo (video game — see also video game) · tt уйын (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · rm gioi (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · enm game (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · eo ludo (particular instance of playing a game; match) · fr jeu (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ar لَعْبَة (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · de Spiel (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ml കളി (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sah оонньуу (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sl divjad (wild animals hunted for food) · fr gibier (wild animals hunted for food) · tr av hayvanı (wild animals hunted for food) · nb lek (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · es tirón (ability to successfully seduce someone — see also charisma, charm) · ar لَعْب (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ca partida (particular instance of playing a game; match) · he צַיִד (wild animals hunted for food) · ota اویون (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment) · ml കളി (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ar لعبة (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sco gemme (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi peli (amorous dalliance) · he מִשְׂחָק (particular instance of playing a game; match) · an chuego (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ja 獲物 (wild animals hunted for food) · unm papuwakàn (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ky ойноо (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ga cluiche (particular instance of playing a game; match) · nb spill (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ru состяза́ние (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ps لوبه (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi ottelu (particular instance of playing a game; match) · gd sitheann (wild animals hunted for food) · te ఆట (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fr jeu (particular instance of playing a game; match) · tg бози (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · nl matchpartij (particular instance of playing a game; match) · pt partida (particular instance of playing a game; match) · dsb graśe (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ar لعبة (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sl igra (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · mk игра (video game — see also video game) · nb match (particular instance of playing a game; match) · lad djogo (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ext juegu (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · es partida (particular instance of playing a game; match) · hu játék (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · mk ди́веч (wild animals hunted for food) · uli gaeyem (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · nn vilt (wild animals hunted for food) · mfe zwe (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · jv gim (particular instance of playing a game; match) · af speletjie (video game — see also video game) · fr match (particular instance of playing a game; match) · rue гра (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sv vilt (wild animals hunted for food) · lt rungtynės (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ckb یاری (particular instance of playing a game; match) · bg ди́веч (wild animals hunted for food) · ar لعبة (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ba бәйге (particular instance of playing a game; match) · zh 遊戲 /游戏 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fa بازی (particular instance of playing a game; match) · osp juego (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · lo ກິລາ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · pox jågraićă (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ja 遊び (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sk hra (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · tr oyun (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sk zver (wild animals hunted for food) · enm game (amorous dalliance) · az oyun (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ca joc (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · hy երե (wild animals hunted for food) · zh 遊戲 /游戏 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · mt logħba (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · mn наадам (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · el παιχνίδι (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · rm giug (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ar لُعْبَة (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · da parti (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · jv gim (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · zh 獵物 /猎物 (wild animals hunted for food) · la lūdus (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · nn parti (particular instance of playing a game; match) · mn тоглоом (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · th การเล่น (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · io ludo (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ee kɔɖiɖi (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · mk натпревар (particular instance of playing a game; match) · th กีฬา (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sw mchezo (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · osp iuego (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · id permainan (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · hsb hra (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · be гульня́ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · az oyun (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · es gancho (ability to successfully seduce someone — see also charisma, charm) · mn ᠲᠣᠭᠯᠠᠭᠠᠮ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · orv игра (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · es jale (ability to successfully seduce someone — see also charisma, charm) · ka თამაში (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ur کھیل (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · el κυνήγι (wild animals hunted for food) · pl gra (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · af wedstryd (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ms permainan (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sv parti (particular instance of playing a game; match) · af spel (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ru дичь (wild animals hunted for food) · fi peli (one's manner, style, or performance in playing a game) · is tafl (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · mnc ᡝᡶᡳᠨ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · it videogioco (video game — see also video game) · am ጨዋታ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sh ѝгра (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ckb کایە (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · is spil (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · be дзічы́на (wild animals hunted for food) · de Computerspiel (video game — see also video game) · nb parti (particular instance of playing a game; match) · cdo 遊戲 /游戏 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · uk ігра́ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · it selvaggina (wild animals hunted for food) · rm gieu (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · cs zápas (particular instance of playing a game; match) · lt žaidimas (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · es imán (ability to successfully seduce someone — see also charisma, charm) · gag oyun (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · af speletjie (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment) · fi taito (ability to successfully seduce someone — see also charisma, charm) · hy խաղ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · uk гра (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ro joc (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ko 놀이 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sh ло̏вина (wild animals hunted for food) · pdt Spell (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · lad djugo (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · pam pialung (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · bg мач (particular instance of playing a game; match) · fi peli (equipment that enables such activity, particularly as packaged under a title) · grc θήραμα (wild animals hunted for food) · pt jogo (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · uz oʻyin (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · et jahiloom (wild animals hunted for food) · lo ການຫຼິ້ນ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ko 게임 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ja 競技 (particular instance of playing a game; match) · gug ñembosarái (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · rup gioc (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi kortti (card games: point awarded to the player whose cards add up to the largest sum) · tl laro (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · cs utkání (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ilo ay-ayam (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · oc jòc (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · km ល្បែង (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · pt jogo (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ckb گەمە (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · cy gêm (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ar لعبة (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · kmr yarî (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · is leikur (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi peli (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment) · de Wild (wild animals hunted for food) · bg игра́ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · za guhcaemz (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · enm game (that which is gained, such as the stake in a game) · fi kyky (ability to successfully seduce someone — see also charisma, charm) · yue 遊戲 /游戏 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · pt jogo (video game — see also video game) · cu игрь (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · tt уен (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · co ghjocu (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · es juego (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi peli (particular instance of playing a game; match) · kmr lîstik (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ga géim (wild animals hunted for food) · zh 野味 (wild animals hunted for food) · sv spel (particular instance of playing a game; match) · it videogame (video game — see also video game) · mi whakaraka (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · vi thi đấu (particular instance of playing a game; match) · io ludajo (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ht jwèt (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · es pegue (ability to successfully seduce someone — see also charisma, charm) · es caza (wild animals hunted for food) · ro vânat (wild animals hunted for food) · lo ກີລາ (particular instance of playing a game; match) · mr खेळ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ee adelã (wild animals hunted for food) · be ігра́ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · vi trò chơi (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · th เกม (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · it cacciagione (wild animals hunted for food) · pl dziczyzna (wild animals hunted for food) · fi riista (wild animals hunted for food) · pdt Spell (particular instance of playing a game; match) · da spil (particular instance of playing a game; match) · it gioco (particular instance of playing a game; match) · jv tandhingan (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ota اویون (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sv spel (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · nl spelleke (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · cs hra (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment) · sl tekma (particular instance of playing a game; match) · rm gi (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · da leg (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · af wild (wild animals hunted for food) · oui 𐽰𐽳𐽶𐽳𐽺 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · sh ди̏вља̄ч (wild animals hunted for food) · fa بازی (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ar طَرِيدَة (wild animals hunted for food) · nn match (particular instance of playing a game; match) · hi खेल (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ht jwèt (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment) · hak 遊戲 /游戏 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ota لعبت (activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment) · eo ludo (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · pl zwierzyna łowna (wild animals hunted for food) · lv medījums (wild animals hunted for food) · wuu 遊戲 /游戏 (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · km កីឡា (particular instance of playing a game; match) · sv match (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ja 体育 (particular instance of playing a game; match) · tk oýun (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ko 사냥감 (wild animals hunted for food) · ce ловзам (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ko 어획물 (wild animals hunted for food) · ckb یاری (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · gd geama (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ja ごっこ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · pl gra (particular instance of playing a game; match) · bo རི་དྭགས (wild animals hunted for food) · ka თამაში (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · pt caça (wild animals hunted for food) · ko 시합 (particular instance of playing a game; match) · fi peli (video game — see also video game) · ar لَعْب (particular instance of playing a game; match) · ko 경기 (particular instance of playing a game; match) · pl zabawa (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · es labia (ability to successfully seduce someone — see also charisma, charm) · ga cluiche (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fi videopeli (video game — see also video game) · ja ゲーム (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · ru соревнова́ние (particular instance of playing a game; match) · es venación (wild animals hunted for food) · ja 試合 (particular instance of playing a game; match) · et mäng (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · da parti (particular instance of playing a game; match) · de Partei (particular instance of playing a game; match) · nl wedstrijd (particular instance of playing a game; match) · nl partij (particular instance of playing a game; match) · it gioco (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · fa بَازِی (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · mr गेम (video game — see also video game) · zza khay (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · mn ᠨᠠᠭᠠᠳᠤᠮ (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · rm gö (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime) · it partita (particular instance of playing a game; match) · non leikr (playful activity that may be unstructured, amusement, pastime)
Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *gamaną
Proto-West Germanic *gaman
Old English gamen
Middle English game
English game
From Middle English game, gamen, gammen, from Old English gamen (“sport, joy, mirth, pastime, game, amusement, pleasure”), from Proto-West Germanic *gaman, from Proto-Germanic *gamaną (“amusement, pleasure, game", literally "participation, communion, people together”), from *ga- (collective prefix) + *mann- (“man”); or alternatively from *ga- + a root from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think, have in mind”).
Cognate with Yola gaame, gaaume, gaume (“game”), Old Frisian game, gome (“joy, amusement, entertainment”), Dutch gemelijk (“cantankerous, crabbed”), Middle High German gamen (“joy, amusement, fun, pleasure”), Danish gammen (“merriment”), Icelandic, Norwegian Nynorsk gaman (“joy, fun”), Swedish gamman (“mirth, rejoicing, merriment”). Related to gammon, gamble.
Meanings
(intransitive) To gamble.
an impressive protest against gaming, swearing, and all immoral practices which might forfeit divine aid in the great struggle for National Independence 1898, “George Washington: Statesman, Christian Gentleman”, in Suggestive programs for special day exercises:
(intransitive) To play card games, board games, or video games.
“The first few days after getting here are weird. It’s a version of cold turkey because you’ve been gaming around the clock and suddenly, nothing. […]” 2017 June 16, Joanna Walters, “Inside the rehab saving young men from their internet addiction”, in The Guardian:
(transitive) To exploit loopholes in a system or bureaucracy in a way which defeats or nullifies the spirit of the rules in effect, usually to obtain a result which otherwise would be unobtainable.
A large batch of online trolls have gamed a web contest that promises a Taylor Swift performance at any school in the US. The target? Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 2012 August 31, Amanda Holpuch, “Trolls game Taylor Swift competition in favor of school for the hearing impaired”, in The Guardian:
We'll bury them in paperwork, and game the system.
It is an example of what real entrepreneurship can do on the railway, but sadly there are not many other examples. Most of the private sector businesses in rail are simply 'gaming' the system, trying to outdo or outthink the regulator and the Government in order to generate profit. 2023 January 25, Christian Wolmar, “An informative cab ride on the state of the railway”, in RAIL, number 975, page 34:
“Amazon risks betraying the trust millions of customers place in the Amazon’s Choice badge by allowing its endorsement to be all too easily gamed,” said Which?’s Natalie Hitchins. 2020 February 6, Alex Hern, quoting Natalie Hitchins, “Amazon Choice label is being 'gamed to promote poor products'”, in The Guardian:
(of males, slang, transitive) To perform premeditated seduction strategy.
How did Amanda know she wasn’t getting gamed? Well, she didn’t. “I would wonder, ‘Is he saying stuff to other girls that he says to me?’ We did everything we could to cut it off […] yet we somehow couldn’t.” 2010 July 9, Sheila McClear, “Would you date a pickup artist?”, in New York Post:
A business associate of mine at the time, George Wu, sat across the way, gaming a stripper the way I taught him. 2010, Mystery, The Pickup Artist: The New and Improved Art of Seduction, Villard Books, →ISBN, page 100:
Returning briefly to his journalistic persona to interview Britney Spears, he finds himself gaming her, and she gives him her phone number. 2005 October 6, “Picking up the pieces”, in The Economist:
fi pelailla (to play games) · pt burlar (to defeat the rules in order to obtain a result) · yue 打機 /打机 (to play games) · pl grać (to play games) · bg играя (to play games) · ml കളിക്കുക (to play games) · de zocken (to play games) · es burlar (to defeat the rules in order to obtain a result) · mk игра (to play games) · cs pařit (to play games) · fi pelata (to play games) · hu kijátszik (to defeat the rules in order to obtain a result) · fi huijata (to defeat the rules in order to obtain a result) · cs hrát (to play games)
He was done for, all right. I took out my six-shooter and aimed right between his eyes. He kicked once, sort of leaped—or tried to, and then lay still. I stood there a minute, to see if he had to have another. He was so game that, some way, I didn’t want to give him more than he needed. 1930, Edna Ferber, Cimarron, page 29:
You come with me and we'll have a cozy dinner and a pleasant talk together, and by that time your game ankle will carry you home very nicely, I am sure." 1906 April, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “Lost on Dress Parade”, in The Four Million, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co, →OCLC: