playlist

playlist — noun

1. a group of songs or tracks that someone saves together in an app or on a device

1.nounB1
Definition

a group of songs or tracks that someone saves together in an app or on a device to play in a chosen order.

Example

Nina made a study playlist before the math exam week began.

make a playlist for + activity

On the bus, Ken added three old jazz songs to his playlist.

add songs to a playlist

Common collocations
  • make a playlist
  • add songs to a playlist
  • share a playlist
  • study playlist
  • workout playlist
Synonyms
  • mix

    is more informal and can sound older or more personal, especially for a hand-picked set of songs

  • queue

    usually means the line of tracks waiting to play next, not a named saved collection

  • compilation

    is more formal and often suggests a prepared collection released as one product

Grammar Patterns

a playlist for + activity

a playlist of + songs/tracks

add a song to a playlist

Usage Note

Often used for a list a person builds for a purpose such as studying, driving, or exercising. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is for private or shared listening on a device or app, not a station's broadcast plan.

Common Mistakes

I made a playlist with ten musics.
I made a playlist with ten songs.
'music' is uncountable, so count songs or tracks instead.
She put the song in her play list.
She put the song on her playlist.
the usual spelling is one word, and songs go 'on' a playlist.

2. the group of songs a broadcaster or radio show intends to air.

2.nounB2
Definition

the group of songs a broadcaster or radio show intends to air.

Example

The station removed the sad song from its breakfast playlist.

station playlist

By noon, three local bands were already on the college playlist.

be on the playlist

Common collocations
  • station playlist
  • show playlist
  • on the playlist
  • update the playlist
  • breakfast playlist
Synonyms
  • rotation

    focuses on songs that are played repeatedly, especially on radio

  • lineup

    is broader and can refer to any planned set of items in a program

  • selection

    is a general word for chosen songs, without the radio-specific airplay idea

Grammar Patterns

the station's playlist

be on the playlist

put a song on the playlist

Usage Note

Common with words like station, show, producer, and airplay. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is the broadcaster's chosen list for public play, not the saved list on one person's phone or app.

Common Mistakes

The station's playlist were changed yesterday.
The station's playlist was changed yesterday.
'playlist' is a singular noun even when it contains many songs.
Her new song entered in the playlist.
Her new song entered the playlist.
'enter' takes the playlist directly as its object.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Playlist is the normal modern word for a saved group of songs you choose for a purpose, mood, or event. Mix is more informal and often feels personal or old-fashioned, especially for a hand-made set of favorite songs. Queue is narrower: it is the line of tracks waiting to play next, so it may change moment by moment and does not always have a title. Compilation is more formal and often suggests a prepared collection sold or released as one package. Album is different again because it is usually the official set issued by an artist. You can say 'I made a gym playlist,' but 'The next song is in my queue' and 'She bought a jazz compilation.'

mix ↗queue ↗compilationalbum ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • put a song on a playlist
  • take a song off a playlist
  • be on the playlist

Prepositions

Etymology

English

Playlist is a compound formed in English from play and list. It names a list of songs or recordings prepared to be played, whether by a broadcaster or by a listener using a device or app.