It proves playing is playful (8)
I believe the answer is:
sportive
'playful' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'it proves playing' is the wordplay.
'playing' indicates an anagram.
'it'+'proves'='itproves'
'itproves' is an anagram of 'SPORTIVE'.
'is' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for sportive that I've seen before include "frisky" , "merry" .)
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