playoff
Postseason elimination contest
A playoff is a game or series of games played after the regular season to determine a champion or break a tie: The team made the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
In American sports, playoff often modifies other nouns: playoff game, playoff berth, playoff atmosphere.
The verb phrase play off means to compete in such a deciding contest.
Force upon contact
- tensionStretched or strained state
- nail-bitingExtremely tense or anxious
- thrillingIntensely exciting
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
dramatic · clutch · heated · rivalry · fierce · hard-fought · grueling · competitive
Work beyond scheduled hours
- shootoutArmed confrontation or tiebreaker
- penaltiesPunishments for infractions
- extra-timeAdditional play after deadlock
- extra-inningsTiebreaking baseball periods
Multi-round competitive event
- bracketSupport or category
- seedEmbryonic plant capsule
- roundCurved like circle
- seriesOrdered set of related items
matchup · quarterfinals · semifinals · conference · division · standings · schedule · format
Support or category
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- seedEmbryonic plant capsule
- wildcardUnpredictable factor in play
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
underdog · ouster · exit · defeat · loss · disqualification · survival · contender
Concluding tests or matches
- trophyAward for winning
- titleFormal honorific or name
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- runner-upCompetition's silver finisher
crown · glory · dynasty · legacy · victory · celebration · parade · MVP
Involving significant consequences
- decisiveQuick to conclude
- pivotalVitally important, deciding
- crucialOf supreme importance
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
do-or-die · winner-take-all · all-or-nothing · momentous · consequential · tense · nervous · jeopardy
pressure
Force upon contact
- tensionStretched or strained state
- nail-bitingExtremely tense or anxious
- thrillingIntensely exciting
adrenaline · dramatic · clutch · heated · rivalry · fierce · hard-fought · grueling · competitive · momentum
overtime
Work beyond scheduled hours
- shootoutArmed confrontation or tiebreaker
- penaltiesPunishments for infractions
- extra-timeAdditional play after deadlock
extra-innings · decider · deadlock · draw · replay · walk-off
tournament
Multi-round competitive event
series · matchup · quarterfinals · semifinals · conference · division · standings · schedule · format · rotation
bracket
Support or category
upset · underdog · ouster · exit · defeat · loss · disqualification · survival · contender · bye
finals
Concluding tests or matches
runner-up · crown · glory · dynasty · legacy · victory · celebration · parade · MVP · ring
high-stakes
Involving significant consequences
critical · do-or-die · winner-take-all · all-or-nothing · momentous · consequential · tense · nervous · jeopardy · gamble
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, winner, sports
- Competition Stagesheats, trials, prelims, preliminaries, qualifier
- tiebreakerssudden death, penalty shootout, overtime, tiebreak, extra innings
- matchesmatch, matches, matchstick, matchbox, matchbook
- showdownsshowdown, face-off, faceoff, confrontation, duel
- chess tournamentsWorld Cup, round robin, open tournament, invitational, national championship
playoffregular season
Standard competitive period before playoffs
preseason · exhibition · scrimmage · league play · conference play
playoffexhibition game
Non-competitive preparatory match
preseason game · friendly · friendly match · practice match · garbage time
- regional playoffArea-level elimination contest
- playoff bracketElimination round structure
- playoff gameTournament elimination contest
- playoff seriesSequential elimination games
- playoff runConsecutive playoff victories
- playoff race