play by ear

as inmake up

as inwing it
as inplay it by ear
as indevise
as inextemporize

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Synonyms for play by ear

verb create

Antonyms for play by ear

More words related to play by ear

extemporize

verb. improvise

Word Origin & History

Old English plegan, plegian "move rapidly, occupy or busy oneself, exercise; frolic; make sport of, mock; perform music," from West Germanic *plegan "occupy oneself about" (cf. Old Saxon plegan "vouch for, take charge of," Old Frisian plega "tend to," Middle Dutch pleyen "to rejoice, be glad," German pflegen "take care of, cultivate"), from PIE root *dlegh- "to engage oneself," forming words in Celtic, Germanic, Slavic, and possibly Latin.

Meaning "to take part in a game" is from c.1200. Opposed to work (v.) since late 14c. Related: Played; playing. To play up "emphasize" is from 1909; to play down "minimize" is from 1930; to play along "cooperate" is from 1929. To play with oneself "masturbate" is from 1896; play for keeps is from 1861, originally of marbles or other children's games with tokens. To play second fiddle in the figurative sense is from 1809 ("Gil Blas"). To play into the hands (of someone) is from 1705. To play the _______ card is attested from 1886; to play fair is from mid-15c. To play (something) safe is from 1911; to play favorites is attested from 1902. For play the field see field (n.).

play by ear

Synonyms for play by ear

Antonyms for play by ear

More words related to play by ear

extemporize

made up

make up

makes up

making up

play by ear

Synonyms .css-1u0ksf7{color:#d9d9d9;}for play by ear

Antonyms for play by ear

More words related to play by ear

.css-1unrqcp{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}extemporize

made up

make up

makes up

making up

Synonyms for play by ear

extemporize