gamer

noun

gam·​er ˈgā-mər How to pronounce gamer (audio)
1
: a person who plays games
especially : a person who regularly plays computer or video games
2
: a player who is game
especially : an athlete who relishes competition

Examples of gamer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plus, the magnetic back plate detaches, letting gamers prop the controller and play wirelessly, like a Nintendo Switch. — Jessica Sager, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Flat panels have their strengths—they’re easier and more attractive for wall-mount installations, for example, and many gamers who also work with spreadsheets or CAD workflows prefer them. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 Retro gaming is going through a wild time at the moment, thanks to decompilations and recompilations that are letting gamers port classic titles to new devices, or merge code from two different games into a single new experience. — Tom Warren, The Verge, 13 Oct. 2026 But the decision to portray an unemployed moocher as a young, white, cheeseball-chomping gamer named Brad upset some conservative commentators last week. — Laura Turbay, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gamer

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1 going back to Middle English, from game, gamen game entry 1 + -er -er entry 2; in sense 2, from game entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of gamer was in 1977

Rhymes for gamer

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Browse Nearby Words

game preserve
gamer
game room
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Cite this Entry

“Gamer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamer. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gamer

noun
gam·​er ˈgā-mər How to pronounce gamer (audio)
1
: a person who plays games and especially video games
2
: a person who is game
especially : an athlete who enjoys competition
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