play alongside

USAGE SUMMARY

"play alongside" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to two or more parties who are playing a game together, supporting each other or working together in some other way. For example: "The two teams decided to play alongside each other to achieve their common goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The star that Carter and Connor will play alongside, Sean Lee, just turned 26.

The New York Times

"He's a player you're proud to play alongside," said Lampard.

BBC

"He's a dream to play alongside and someone I've looked up to in my Swansea career".

BBC

He's a great leader to play alongside.

The Guardian - Sport

"I welcome my chance to play alongside them".

The New York Times

"I love to play alongside Wayne," said the Dutchman.

Independent

To play alongside them, Watney said, "is a benchmark".

The New York Times - Sports

And they play alongside Hispanics in the soccer leagues.

The New York Times

Here he'll be play alongside residents Quail and Turtle.

The Guardian - Music

"Imagine being able to play alongside professional musicians".

The Guardian - Music

"To play alongside [Johnathan] Thurston, that was pretty special.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about team dynamics, "play alongside" can add a personal touch, highlighting the relationships between team members and their shared journey.

Common error

Avoid using "play alongside" when the context implies competition or opposition rather than cooperation. For instance, instead of saying "they play alongside each other in the market," consider alternatives like "they compete in the same market" or "they operate in the same market."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "play alongside" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating participation in the same activity with another person or group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a commonly used phrase. Examples in Ludwig show its use in describing collaboration and shared experiences in sports and music.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "play alongside" is a verb phrase used to describe individuals participating in the same activity, especially in collaborative settings like sports and music. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It conveys a sense of teamwork and shared experience. While primarily found in news and media contexts, its neutral register allows for broad application in informal and semi-formal communication. When considering alternatives, focus on phrases that emphasize collaboration and shared participation. The frequency of examples in Ludwig suggests it's a commonly understood and used expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collaborate with

This alternative focuses on the cooperative aspect of working together.

cooperate with

Highlights the aspect of mutual support and assistance in achieving a common goal.

team up with

This emphasizes the teamwork aspect, suggesting a partnership to achieve a common goal.

work together with

A more general phrase that highlights the joint effort involved.

partner with

Implies a more formal or structured collaboration.

join forces with

Suggests combining strengths for a shared purpose.

perform with

Specifically applicable in contexts like music or theater, highlighting shared performance.

be in the same team as

Focuses on belonging to the same group or organization.

compete with

Emphasizes the shared activity while highlighting the competition.

share the stage with

Specifically used in the context of performing arts, indicating a shared performance space.

FAQs

How can I use "play alongside" in a sentence?

"Play alongside" is generally used to describe individuals participating in the same activity, typically in sports or music, implying collaboration and shared experience. For example: "It's a privilege to "play alongside" such talented musicians".

What are some alternatives to "play alongside"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "collaborate with", "team up with", or "work together with" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "play alongside" in a business context?

While primarily used in sports and creative activities, "play alongside" can be used metaphorically in a business context to describe colleagues working closely together. However, more formal alternatives like "collaborate with" or "partner with" may be more appropriate in professional settings.

What's the difference between "play alongside" and "compete against"?

"Play alongside" emphasizes teamwork and shared participation, while "compete against" focuses on opposition and rivalry. One implies collaboration, while the other highlights competition. For example, teammates "play alongside" each other, while opposing teams "compete against" each other.