sported; sporting; sports
1
a
: to amuse oneself : frolic
lambs sporting in the meadow
b
: to engage in a sport
2
a
: to mock or ridicule something
b
: to speak or act in jest : trifle
3
[sport entry 2]
: to deviate or vary abruptly from type (as by bud variation) : mutate
1
: to display or wear usually ostentatiously : boast
sporting expensive new shoes
2
[sport entry 2]
: to put forth as a sport or bud variation
1
a
: a source of diversion : recreation
b
: sexual play
c(1)
: physical activity engaged in for pleasure
(2)
: a particular activity (such as an athletic game) so engaged in
2
a
: pleasantry, jest
3
a
: something tossed or driven about in or as if in play
b
4
a
b
: a person considered with respect to living up to the ideals of sportsmanship
a good sport
a poor sport
c
: a companionable person
5
: an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue
variants
or sports
: of, relating to, or suitable for sports
especially
: styled in a manner suitable for casual or informal wear
sport coats
Synonyms
Examples of sport in a Sentence
Verb
She showed up at the party sporting a bright red hat.
from sailing to snorkeling, each day we sported at a different activity offered by the beach resort
Noun
She likes to play sport.
Ice-skating with friends is my favorite sport.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 3 June 2024
Spending on services increasing People continue to spend more, however, on services – things like haircuts and tickets to sporting events.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 1 June 2024
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2024
Just cue up viral videos of rival fans in other sports leagues pummeling each other in the stands, or adults shouting obscenities at one another in front of children.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2024
Shelby Dermer, The Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2023
The multi-sport athlete shot 56% from the field and 82% from the free-throw line, and graduates with over 1,000 career points.
—Brian Haenchen, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for sport 
Verb
Both Chicago and Jenner, who sported an all-brown outfit, flashed smiles for the camera, while Kardashian and North donned straight faces in all-white outfits.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 3 June 2024
Spending on services increasing People continue to spend more, however, on services – things like haircuts and tickets to sporting events.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 1 June 2024
Noun
In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2024
Just cue up viral videos of rival fans in other sports leagues pummeling each other in the stands, or adults shouting obscenities at one another in front of children.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2024
Adjective
Marissa Meyer Meyer, who was a multi-sport athlete at Fairfield High School, is a finalist for the 2023 Sorensen Award, given annually to the nation's top women's collegiate rugby player.
—Shelby Dermer, The Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2023
The multi-sport athlete shot 56% from the field and 82% from the free-throw line, and graduates with over 1,000 career points.
—Brian Haenchen, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for sport
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sport.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to sport
Dictionary Entries Near sport
Cite this Entry
“Sport.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sport. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sport
1 of 3 verb
ˈspō(ə)rt 
ˈspȯ(ə)rt
sport
2 of 3 noun1
a
b
: physical activity (as hunting, running, or an athletic game) engaged in for pleasure
2
a
b
: fun entry 1 sense 3
make sport of someone
3
: a person who shows good sportsmanship
4
: an individual that shows a sudden major change from the normal type usually as a result of a mutation
a yellow sport among the red apples
sport
3 of 3 adjective
variants
or sports
: of, relating to, or suitable for sports
sports equipment
also
: made in a style suitable for casual or informal wear
a sport coat
Medical Definition
sport
noun
: an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue
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