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
Ira SilverSt. 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
Jon DrapeThe grasslands play host to [=provide a home for] long-billed curlews and sage grouse, and eagles, osprey and coyotes scavenge the area.—Kay Clark
Kay ClarkExamples of play host to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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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
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.
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