Wordplay
noun
The clever or amusing use of words, often using multiple meanings or similar sounds.
The headline was a simple wordplay on the athlete's name.
Often appears as...
- clever wordplay
- amusing wordplay
Usage tips
Literary
noun
The clever or amusing use of words, often using multiple meanings or similar sounds.
The headline was a simple wordplay on the athlete's name.
Often appears as...
- clever wordplay
- amusing wordplay
Usage tips
Literary
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Creative Humor
Wordplay often introduces a sense of humor into writing or speech, making it more engaging and memorable.
She had a photographic memory but never developed it, a clever wordplay on 'develop'.
Pro Tip 2/3Sound Similarities
Wordplay may use words that sound alike but have different meanings, known as homophones, to create a funny or clever effect.
The bicycle couldn't stand on its own because it was two-tired - a pun based on 'tired'.
Pro Tip 3/3Language Fluency
Understanding wordplay requires a good grasp of vocabulary and the subtleties of language.
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana - this wordplay relies on understanding different meanings.
Pro Tip 1/3Creative Humor
Wordplay often introduces a sense of humor into writing or speech, making it more engaging and memorable.
She had a photographic memory but never developed it, a clever wordplay on 'develop'.
Pro Tip 2/3Sound Similarities
Wordplay may use words that sound alike but have different meanings, known as homophones, to create a funny or clever effect.
The bicycle couldn't stand on its own because it was two-tired - a pun based on 'tired'.
Pro Tip 3/3Language Fluency
Understanding wordplay requires a good grasp of vocabulary and the subtleties of language.
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana - this wordplay relies on understanding different meanings.
Pro Tip 1/3Creative Humor
Wordplay often introduces a sense of humor into writing or speech, making it more engaging and memorable.
She had a photographic memory but never developed it, a clever wordplay on 'develop'.
Pro Tip 2/3Sound Similarities
Wordplay may use words that sound alike but have different meanings, known as homophones, to create a funny or clever effect.
The bicycle couldn't stand on its own because it was two-tired - a pun based on 'tired'.
Pro Tip 3/3Language Fluency
Understanding wordplay requires a good grasp of vocabulary and the subtleties of language.
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana - this wordplay relies on understanding different meanings.
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Video examples
Christopher Emdin: Teach...
Who here has been to a black church? We got a couple of hands. You go to a black church, their preacher starts off and he realizes that he has to engage the audience, so he starts off with this sort of wordplay in the beginning oftentimes, and then he takes a pause,
Video examples
What makes a poem … a...
Poetry has a shape that we can usually recognize. Its line breaks help readers navigate the rhythms of a poem. But what if those line breaks disappeared? Would it lose its essence as a poem? Maybe not. Enter the prose poem. Prose poems use vivid images and wordplay
Video examples
Christopher Emdin: Teach...
Who here has been to a black church? We got a couple of hands. You go to a black church, their preacher starts off and he realizes that he has to engage the audience, so he starts off with this sort of wordplay in the beginning oftentimes, and then he takes a pause,
Video examples
What makes a poem … a...
Poetry has a shape that we can usually recognize. Its line breaks help readers navigate the rhythms of a poem. But what if those line breaks disappeared? Would it lose its essence as a poem? Maybe not. Enter the prose poem. Prose poems use vivid images and wordplay
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
K. Flay
American Musician
When I first started making music, I was all about wordplay and how fast I could rap, but over the years, I've really gained an appreciation for melody. What's cool is that when you're singing, you have to be concise, and when you're rapping, you have the opportunity to be really detailed with your lyrics.
Quote examples
Kate Christensen
American Novelist
Loser lit antiheroes aren't well intentioned or earnest; they don't care whether you like them or not. They're self-mocking, ironic and inventive; they narrate their downfalls with manic wordplay, rampant metaphors, wisecracks, and escalating flights of spleen-fueled lyricism.
Quote examples
St. Vincent
American Musician
One of my favourite things about country music is that, at least until recently, you could always count on a solid story, a punchline and a pun. I think it has that in common with hip hop, where they're not afraid of wordplay and I really appreciate that.
Quote examples
Future
American Musician
Big Rube was on my first album and some of my mixtapes. His words are so powerful. I want to speak every word he says into existence. I wanna be a part of that! I wanna be a part of greatness. His wordplay is great to me.
Quote examples
Gus Dapperton
American Musician
When I first started making music, I was pretty drawn to hip-hop beats wrapped together with super-good lyrics. The most important thing in that is wordplay, so that stayed with me when I started writing songs.
Quote examples
Bad Bunny
Puerto Rican Singer
The first rap CD that I had, it was so different for me. The energy, the wordplay, all that caught my attention, and I liked it.
Quote examples
Polo G
American Musician
Lil Wayne, that was one of my main influences, music-wise, because of his wordplay and metaphors.
Quote examples
DaBaby
American Musician
Everything is organic. I got the wordplay, I got the vocabulary to really, really rap.
Quote examples
Cordae
American Musician
I liked Big L's wordplay with the multi-syllable rhymes he hit so clean.
Quote examples
Offset
American Musician
I gotta keep my wordplay and make sure I don't lose nothing.
Quote examples
K. Flay
American Musician
When I first started making music, I was all about wordplay and how fast I could rap, but over the years, I've really gained an appreciation for melody. What's cool is that when you're singing, you have to be concise, and when you're rapping, you have the opportunity to be really detailed with your lyrics.
Quote examples
Kate Christensen
American Novelist
Loser lit antiheroes aren't well intentioned or earnest; they don't care whether you like them or not. They're self-mocking, ironic and inventive; they narrate their downfalls with manic wordplay, rampant metaphors, wisecracks, and escalating flights of spleen-fueled lyricism.
Quote examples
St. Vincent
American Musician
One of my favourite things about country music is that, at least until recently, you could always count on a solid story, a punchline and a pun. I think it has that in common with hip hop, where they're not afraid of wordplay and I really appreciate that.
Quote examples
Future
American Musician
Big Rube was on my first album and some of my mixtapes. His words are so powerful. I want to speak every word he says into existence. I wanna be a part of that! I wanna be a part of greatness. His wordplay is great to me.
Quote examples
Gus Dapperton
American Musician
When I first started making music, I was pretty drawn to hip-hop beats wrapped together with super-good lyrics. The most important thing in that is wordplay, so that stayed with me when I started writing songs.
Quote examples
Bad Bunny
Puerto Rican Singer
The first rap CD that I had, it was so different for me. The energy, the wordplay, all that caught my attention, and I liked it.
Quote examples
Polo G
American Musician
Lil Wayne, that was one of my main influences, music-wise, because of his wordplay and metaphors.
Quote examples
DaBaby
American Musician
Everything is organic. I got the wordplay, I got the vocabulary to really, really rap.
Quote examples
Cordae
American Musician
I liked Big L's wordplay with the multi-syllable rhymes he hit so clean.
Quote examples
Offset
American Musician
I gotta keep my wordplay and make sure I don't lose nothing.
Example 1 of 10
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