toy with
phrasal verb
toyed with; toying with; toys with
1
: to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously
I toyed with the idea of moving to France but ended up staying here.
2
: to move or touch (something) with one's fingers often without thinking
She toyed with her hair while she talked on the phone.
3
: to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way
Do you really love me, or are you just toying with me?
Don't toy with my emotions.
Examples of toy with in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gaetz has toyed with the prospect of returning to the Capitol to participate in the speaker's vote and create one last dose of congressional chaos.
—
Lauren Peller, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025
Set amid 800 acres of rolling hills, the 37,000-square-foot home was also his studio and a laboratory for experimental architecture, where Wright toyed with form and design, tearing down sections and rebuilding again.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2024
Any toy with small pieces, like dolls' accessories or Legos, can present a choking and aspiration hazard, especially for toddlers.
—Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
The most stylish and statement winter coats often toy with elements of color and texture.
—Andrea Bossi, Essence, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for toy with 
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Lauren Peller, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025
Set amid 800 acres of rolling hills, the 37,000-square-foot home was also his studio and a laboratory for experimental architecture, where Wright toyed with form and design, tearing down sections and rebuilding again.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2024
Any toy with small pieces, like dolls' accessories or Legos, can present a choking and aspiration hazard, especially for toddlers.
—Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
The most stylish and statement winter coats often toy with elements of color and texture.
—Andrea Bossi, Essence, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for toy with
Dictionary Entries Near toy with
Cite this Entry
“Toy with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toy%20with. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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