PLAYFULNESS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does playfulness mean? 

• PLAYFULNESS (noun)
  The noun PLAYFULNESS has 3 senses:

1. a festive merry feeling

2. a disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement

3. activities that are enjoyable or amusing

  Familiarity information: PLAYFULNESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PLAYFULNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A festive merry feeling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

gaiety; playfulness

Hypernyms ("playfulness" is a kind of...):

levity (feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness)

Derivation:

playful (full of fun and high spirits)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

fun; playfulness

Context example:

he was fun to be with

Hypernyms ("playfulness" is a kind of...):

frivolity; frivolousness (the trait of being frivolous; not serious or sensible)

Attribute:

playful (full of fun and high spirits)

serious; sober; unplayful (completely lacking in playfulness)

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

facetiousness (playful humor)

archness; impertinence; perkiness; pertness; sauciness (inappropriate playfulness)

friskiness; frolicsomeness; sportiveness (lively high-spirited playfulness)

impishness; mischievousness; puckishness; whimsicality (the trait of behaving like an imp)

humor; humour; sense of humor; sense of humour (the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Activities that are enjoyable or amusing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

fun; merriment; playfulness

Context example:

he is fun to have around

Hypernyms ("playfulness" is a kind of...):

diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)

 Context examples 

She does not think evil, but she speaks it, speaks it in playfulness; and though I know it to be playfulness, it grieves me to the soul.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She received my attentions with an easy, friendly, goodhumoured playfulness, which exactly suited me.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Affecting that air of playfulness, therefore, which is delightful in a woman one loves, she opened the letter directly, and read its contents.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

On the instant, the she- wolf's coyness and playfulness disappeared.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He knows me, and I know him. Do YOU know me? Hey? said Mr. Creakle, pinching my ear with ferocious playfulness.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"An' now I'll do me duty to God," he murmured. He turned his head toward Edith. "Read to me," he said, "from the book;" then added, with a glint of playfulness, "Mayhap 'twill help me to forget the bunk."

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

She laughed because she was disappointed; and though she liked him for his attentions, and thought them all, whether in friendship, admiration, or playfulness, extremely judicious, they were not winning back her heart.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

There was a playfulness about her nips and a gentleness that prevented them from really hurting him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

It requires great powers, great nicety, to give her playfulness and simplicity without extravagance.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)