playful

adjective

play·​ful ˈplā-fəl 

1

: full of play : frolicsome, sportive

a playful kitten

2

: humorous, jocular

playfully

ˈplā-fə-lē 

adverb

playfulness noun

Synonyms

• antic
• coltish
• elfish
• fay
• frisky
• frolicsome
• larky
• rollicking
• sportful
• sportive

Examples of playful in a Sentence

She's an old dog, but she's still very playful.

He had a playful expression on his face.

a playful tone of voice

You're certainly in a playful mood!

She gave him a light playful slap on the knee.

Recent Examples on the Web

But playful, electronic reimaginings of Grandma’s feel-good tunes and funny pop culture sound bites weren’t getting us anywhere past Havre de Grace. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025

Rowan is a funny, playful, and high-spirited young boy who keeps everyone around him smiling. —Mare Staff, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025

Other than exploring easy walking trails or grabbing a coffee with a view, seek out the playful troll statues nestled in the forest (Trollskogen) for a dose of Norwegian culture and a memorable adventure in nature. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Mix, Don't Match Mixing plates in the same or similar pattern but different colors adds playful sophistication while maintaining visual harmony. —Catherine Hong, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

playful

adjective

play·​ful ˈplā-fəl 

1

: full of play : fond of playing

a playful kitten

2

: humorous

a playful tone of voice

playfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

playfulness noun