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
Examples 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
The 10-piece fall line plays up plenty of daytime looks but there are also versatile styles that can be dressed up for evening outings.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 24 Oct. 2024
In 2017, Payne played up the story of his Combs encounter for laughs in an interview with British talk show host Graham Norton.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2024
The pop-up itself will play up some of the jokes in the show - like the sprinklers on the ceiling that are supposed to be filled with blood.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
After that opener, the album is a litany of scenarios that play up guilt, betrayal, anxiety, resilience, and everything else that reduces interpersonal workings into a high-stakes chess match.
—Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play up 
Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 24 Oct. 2024
In 2017, Payne played up the story of his Combs encounter for laughs in an interview with British talk show host Graham Norton.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2024
The pop-up itself will play up some of the jokes in the show - like the sprinklers on the ceiling that are supposed to be filled with blood.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
After that opener, the album is a litany of scenarios that play up guilt, betrayal, anxiety, resilience, and everything else that reduces interpersonal workings into a high-stakes chess match.
—Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
-
With the world watching, there is a collective aspiration that the international event will highlight the critical need for sustainable practices and mobilize concrete actions to safeguard our planet for generations to come.Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 27 Nov. 2024
-
Three weeks later in Tampa Bay, another 80-yarder highlighted his 169-yard outburst.Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Collison also emphasized that areas with deteriorating or no sidewalks, commonly in low-income neighborhoods, shouldn’t be left out of redevelopment.Daryl Perry, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
-
Holistic Employee Well-Being Many organizations emphasize the importance of work-life balance, mental health support and a positive work environment, but these initiatives frequently fall short.Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Three more benchmarks stress the CPU, using all available cores and threads to rate a PC's suitability for processor-intensive workloads.PCMAG, PCMAG, 16 Nov. 2024
-
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while congratulating Trump, stressed the importance of the trans-Atlantic partnership, noting that millions of jobs and billions in trade rely on stable relations.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The whisky collection features over 2,000 whiskies, including rare and collectible bottles from around the world.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
-
Along with the city’s Miracle on Main Street event that will feature a tree lighting and visit from Santa Claus on Saturday, the council also declared parking in downtown Westminster free for the month of December.Brennan Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 30 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near play up
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20up. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share