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Synonyms
Examples of play up in a Sentence
that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings
Recent Examples on the Web
McKay is all about playing up the mood with warm colors.
—Christina Cush, Architectural Digest, 24 Sep. 2024
Washington plays up the differences between Berniece and Boy Willie’s relationship to the piano with flashbacks to both of their childhoods.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2024
Similarly to Lydia, her stepmother Delia Deetz (Catherine O'Hara) plays up her artist persona while in public, wearing a graphic dress when working with a temperamental graffiti artist before slipping into an ostentatious black-and-white coat that Atwood found online.
—Irina Grechko, refinery29.com, 13 Sep. 2024
The parents plan to play up the fire as a vacation for the kids — maybe taking them camping or finding some other fun way to pass the time.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play up
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'play up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1814, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near play up
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20up. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
play up
verbMore from Merriam-Webster on play up
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