at play
idiom
1
: in the act of playing
the sounds of children at play
2
: being something that helps produce or influence a result
Several issues are at play in determining the price of gasoline.
Examples of at play in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Here’s what to do June 17, 2024 But there are other factors at play as well, including the current transition from El Niño to La Niña.
—
Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2024
On the retail sales side, there are similar stories at play: Businesses are seeing softer, but improving, demand; consumers are showing some hesitancy but still are spending some; and industry members are exhibiting cautious, but growing, optimism.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 16 June 2024
There are also moral questions at play and a basic philosophical disagreement over whether aging should be considered a disease that can be reversed — and, if so, what that even means.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 June 2024
At the very least, a certain measure of moral relativism was at play this past week.
—Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for at play 
Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2024
On the retail sales side, there are similar stories at play: Businesses are seeing softer, but improving, demand; consumers are showing some hesitancy but still are spending some; and industry members are exhibiting cautious, but growing, optimism.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 16 June 2024
There are also moral questions at play and a basic philosophical disagreement over whether aging should be considered a disease that can be reversed — and, if so, what that even means.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 June 2024
At the very least, a certain measure of moral relativism was at play this past week.
—Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for at play
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at play.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near at play
Cite this Entry
“At play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20play. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share