play host to

English

Verb

play host to (third-person singular simple present plays host to, present participle playing host to, simple past and past participle played host to)

1. To host an important event or visitor.

   Madrid played host to the 2022 Candidates Tournament.

   • 2009, David Walliams, Mr Stink:

     The staff were used to playing host to royalty and world leaders at 10 Downing Street, not a little girl, a transvestite tramp, and his dog.

Further reading

• “play host to”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “play host to”, in Collins English Dictionary.