as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of play up
Council Member Kimberly Holiday pointed out that Pflugerville has a monarch butterfly sanctuary project and the rest of the council agreed the center should play up that image.
—
Mason Rouser, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Her Wyoming outpost plays up summer entertaining and will be up-and-running through the end of August.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
And like that Tom Cruise sequel, F1 plays up the fact that authenticity, verisimilitude and a you-are-there-feeling can often make the difference between a fun afternoon at the moving pictures and an immersive adrenaline rush.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
Miles recalled standing in the crowded gym as speakers blared music and celebrities ran plays up and down the court.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Mason Rouser, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Her Wyoming outpost plays up summer entertaining and will be up-and-running through the end of August.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
And like that Tom Cruise sequel, F1 plays up the fact that authenticity, verisimilitude and a you-are-there-feeling can often make the difference between a fun afternoon at the moving pictures and an immersive adrenaline rush.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
Miles recalled standing in the crowded gym as speakers blared music and celebrities ran plays up and down the court.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
-
During an in-game TV interview Friday when the Magic lost to Dallas, Richardson highlighted Wendell Moore Jr. when the rookie was asked who has impressed throughout summer league.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 July 2025
-
The stats that come out of this tournament aren’t always the most useful bellwether, but these performances highlighted a few areas of improvement for the remainder of the summer — cut down on overdribbling, don’t allow traps to fully close, move off dead ends more quickly.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
19 July 2025
Verb
-
That said, many policymakers have emphasized taking a wait and see approach to monetary policy in the coming months as the economic impact of government policy plays out.—
Simon Moore,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Lawmakers who support using STAR bonds emphasize that taxpayers aren’t on the hook if the projects don’t make enough money to pay back the debt.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
The report stresses that this would need to be quickly explored, approved, and set in motion on an expedited basis.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Murray stressed that rodent populations can harm humans and wildlife.—
William Tong,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
The concert also features work by Johannes Brahms and Carl Maria von Weber.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
11 July 2025
-
Funnily enough, the new-to-Amazon film Heads of State starring John Cena and Idris Elba features a big, fat action sequence aboard the presidential jet.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20up. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share