FOOTBALL GAME

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does football game mean? 

• FOOTBALL GAME (noun)
  The noun FOOTBALL GAME has 1 sense:

1. any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal

  Familiarity information: FOOTBALL GAME used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOOTBALL GAME (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

football; football game

Hypernyms ("football game" is a kind of...):

contact sport (a sport that necessarily involves body contact between opposing players)

field game (an outdoor game played on a field of specified dimensions)

Meronyms (parts of "football game"):

half (one of two divisions into which some games or performances are divided: the two divisions are separated by an interval)

Domain member category:

complete; nail (complete a pass)

ground (throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage)

kick (make a goal)

place-kick (score (a goal) by making a place kick)

quarterback (play the quarterback)

fullback (play the fullback)

line up (take one's position before a kick-off)

quarter ((football, professional basketball) one of four divisions into which some games are divided)

winger ((sports) player in wing position)

wingback ((football) the person who plays wingback)

tight end ((football) an offensive end who lines up close to the tackle)

tackle (seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball)

drop-kick; dropkick (drop and kick (a ball) as it touches the ground, as for a field goal)

drop-kick; dropkick (make the point after a touchdown with a dropkick)

running back ((football) a back on the offensive team (a fullback or halfback) who tries to advance the ball by carrying it on plays from the line of scrimmage)

return (make a return)

broken-field (varying in direction suddenly and frequently)

completed (caught)

uncompleted (not caught or not caught within bounds)

running (of advancing the ball by running)

pass; passing (of advancing the ball by throwing it)

ball-hawking (used of a player skilled in stealing the ball or robbing a batter of a hit)

center; snapper ((football) the person who plays center on the line of scrimmage and snaps the ball to the quarterback)

place-kicking; place kick ((sports) a kick in which the ball is placed on the ground before kicking)

dropkick ((football) kicking (as for a field goal) in which the football is dropped and kicked as it touches the ground)

fake; juke ((football) a deceptive move made by a football player)

football score (the score in a football game)

kickoff ((football) a kick from the center of the field to start a football game or to resume it after a score)

professional football (football played for pay)

yard marker ((football) a marker indicating the yard line)

midfield ((sports) the middle part of a playing field (as in football or lacrosse))

back ((football) a person who plays in the backfield)

ball carrier; runner ((football) the player who is carrying (and trying to advance) the ball on an offensive play)

tailback ((American football) the person who plays tailback)

end ((football) the person who plays at one end of the line of scrimmage)

fullback ((football) the running back who plays the fullback position on the offensive team)

halfback ((football) the running back who plays the offensive halfback position)

forward passer; passer ((football) a ball carrier who tries to gain ground by throwing a forward pass)

place-kicker; placekicker ((football) a kicker who makes a place kick for a goal)

punter ((football) a person who kicks the football by dropping it from the hands and contacting it with the foot before it hits the ground)

field general; quarterback; signal caller ((football) the person who plays quarterback)

punt; punting ((football) a kick in which the football is dropped from the hands and kicked before it touches the ground)

rusher ((football) a ball carrier who tries to gain ground by running with the ball)

split end ((football) an offensive end who lines up at a distance from the other linemen)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "football game"):

American football; American football game (a game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long; teams try to get possession of the ball and advance it across the opponents goal line in a series of (running or passing) plays)

professional football (football played for pay)

rugby; rugby football; rugger (a form of football played with an oval ball)

association football; soccer (a football game in which two teams of 11 players try to kick or head a ball into the opponents' goal)

 Context examples 

This was a permanent move, said Daisy over the telephone, but I didn't believe it—I had no sight into Daisy's heart but I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking a little wistfully for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)