1 A2 informal
To spend time in a playful, unserious, or experimental way.
"The children spent the whole afternoon playing around in the garden."
play around
B1 informal intransitive
To spend time doing things in a playful or experimental way; also to be sexually unfaithful to a partner.
In plain English
To have fun without being serious; to try things out casually; or (rude) to cheat on your partner.
What does "play around" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 informal
To experiment informally with ideas, settings, or creative possibilities.
"I've been playing around with different colour palettes for the website redesign."
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To be sexually unfaithful to a romantic partner.
"She left him after she found out he'd been playing around behind her back."
Usage tip
Has two distinct senses: (1) to experiment or have fun casually (neutral); (2) to be sexually unfaithful (can be informal or derogatory). Both senses are common in British and American English. The sexual infidelity sense requires context and is not always intended. Often followed by 'with' to specify what someone is experimenting with.
Words that pair with "play around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
ideas design words partner feelings settings
How to conjugate "play around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
play around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
plays around
he/she/it
Past simple
played around
yesterday
Past participle
played around
have + pp
-ing form
playing around
continuous
Hear "play around" in the wild
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Other ways to say "play around"
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