play host to

idiomatic phrase

: to serve as a host for (someone or something)
Each year, the city plays host to the film festival for one week.
As travel to the Third World has expanded, so, too, has concern about the damage wrought by mass tourism on the people and places that play host to wandering North Americans and Europeans.Ira Silver
St. John's meets No. 3-ranked Duke and the Big East rival Miami on the road, and will play host to No. 4 Syracuse, No. 13 Connecticut and surging Seton Hall at the Garden.Jon Drape
The grasslands play host to [=provide a home for] long-billed curlews and sage grouse, and eagles, osprey and coyotes scavenge the area.Kay Clark

Examples of play host to in a Sentence

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.
Solana Santa Fe School played host to a special VIP guest on May 22 when children’s book author Minh Lê stopped in for a school-wide assembly. Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025 Granada Hills, seeded No. 1 in the eight-team tournament, will play host to Venice in Wednesday’s semifinals. Venice 2, El Camino Real 1: In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Gondoliers won it when Abigail Acensio got a walk-off single with the bases loaded. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025 The Eagles play host to Ganesha in the Division 2 quarterfinals on Wednesday. Dan Albano, Oc Register, 20 May 2025 The Citrus Bowl has played host to local legends like a neighborhood dog named Leo who ran on the field and interrupted the Ohio State-Alabama game in 2005. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for play host to

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of play host to was in 1837

Cite this Entry

“Play host to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20host%20to. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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