Pronunciation: /æt pleɪ/
noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'play' is a noun referring to a form of activity or entertainment.
A1 Children are often seen at play in the park.
A2 The puppies were happily at play in the backyard.
B1 The students were engaged in a game at play during recess.
B2 The actors were rehearsing their scenes at play on stage.
C1 The athletes displayed their skills at play during the championship game.
C2 The musicians were improvising at play during the jazz concert.
adverb A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In this case, 'at' could also be considered an adverb indicating the location or position of the action of playing.
A1 The children were at play in the park.
A2 The puppy was at play with its favorite toy.
B1 The students were at play during recess, enjoying a game of tag.
B2 The athletes were at play on the field, showcasing their skills.
C1 The musicians were at play, creating beautiful melodies together.
C2 The actors were at play on stage, captivating the audience with their performance.
preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. In this case, 'at' is a preposition indicating a location or position.
A1 Children are often at play in the park.
A2 The kittens were at play with a ball of yarn.
B1 The students were at play during recess, enjoying the sunshine.
B2 The actors were at play on stage, performing a Shakespearean play.
C1 The politicians were at play, negotiating a new trade agreement.
C2 The scientists were at play in the lab, conducting groundbreaking research.
formal The children's creativity is at play during recess as they engage in various imaginative games.
informal The kids are at play in the park, running around and having fun.
slang The team is at play on the field, giving it their all to win the game.
figurative The different factors are at play in determining the outcome of the experiment.
was at play
are at play
more at play
most at play
is at play
will be at play
has been at play
is being at play
is at play
at play
to be at play
being at play
having been at play