play-off

noun

Definition of play-offnext
as in championship

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of play-off Sullivan’s output has reignited Philadelphia, with 10 wins and two draws from their 12 post-World Cup matches propelling them from the bottom of the Eastern Conference into a play-off position with seven regular-season games to go. — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 In great news, the Minnesota Lynx’s were the first team to clinch a play-off spot, a top spot at that. — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 The Maroons ascended back to France's top tier in the summer after winning their play-off match to return after just a single season. — Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025 This includes the promotion/relegation play-off games and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup next year to kick off the 2026-27 season. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play-off
  1. championship
  2. semifinal
  3. final
  4. derby
Noun
  • Caminero’s baseball year had started with a bang back in January, when the then-21-year-old hit a ball 454 feet to clinch a championship in the Dominican Winter League.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In the two years since USC and UCLA left the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, each school has topped the standings once and the Bruins have won the conference tournament twice, going on to the Final Four two years ago and winning the championship last April.
    — Luke DeCock, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of championship
Noun
  • In other Asian Games events like hockey, players from both countries did embrace each other and shook hands with each other after India beat Pakistan in the semifinal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The only other meeting between the Bison and Hornets was in 1988, in an NCAA Division II national semifinal, won by North Dakota State, 42-20.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of semifinal
Noun
  • The final between the two Chinese women was a match between friends.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Gaines, then swimming for the University of Kentucky, tied Thomas for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle final.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of final
Noun
  • Atletico Madrid won the first capital derby of the season in the Spanish league with a 2-1 win against 10-man Real Madrid, while Manchester City prevailed in an eight-goal thriller against Sunderland to move clear at the top of the Premier League.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The 46-year-old, whose team won 1-0 against Manchester United in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday despite Phil Foden’s first-half red card, is a firm believer in the power of music in an elite performance setting.
    — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of derby

Browse Nearby Words

playmates
play-off
play-offs
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Cite this Entry

“Play-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play-off. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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