play with
phrasal verb
played with; playing with; plays with
1
: to move or handle (something) with one's hands or fingers often without thinking
Stop playing with that pen and pay attention to what I'm saying.
2
: to handle, change, or deal with (something) in a careless way
I played with the radio for a while but couldn't get it to work.
It's important to teach your children not to play with guns/fire/matches.
Don't play with my heart/emotions.
You have to take this seriously. You're playing with people's lives!
3
: to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously
I played with the idea of moving to Chicago but ended up staying in New York.
Examples of play with in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Manager David Moyes came out on top in the tactical battle, with his Everton side happy to play with structure and discipline.
—
Paul Taylor, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Helms later played with the Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox before retiring in 1977.
—Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025
For startups, all of this means more cash to play with and a chance to leapfrog into healthcare, cybersecurity or autonomous systems.
—Bob Ras, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Besides playing beloved games such as Mario Bros and Animal Crossing solo, gamers can connect and play with friends.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play with
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Paul Taylor, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Helms later played with the Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox before retiring in 1977.
—Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025
For startups, all of this means more cash to play with and a chance to leapfrog into healthcare, cybersecurity or autonomous systems.
—Bob Ras, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Besides playing beloved games such as Mario Bros and Animal Crossing solo, gamers can connect and play with friends.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play with
Cite this Entry
“Play with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20with. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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