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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of play up
Even in the Detroit area, the Battery Show, which played up the development of electronic vehicles, has become a big event in the fall in Detroit.
—
Bill Koenig, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Boise State opted to forgo its final timeout and run an immediate play up the court, but Cardenas’ shot bounced twice on the rim before falling off.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2025
In his speech, Trump played up his plans to impose tariffs on goods produced outside the United States.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 23 Jan. 2025
Trump tends to play up China’s growing dominance in zero-sum, they’re-eating-our-lunch terms.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for play up 
Bill Koenig, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Boise State opted to forgo its final timeout and run an immediate play up the court, but Cardenas’ shot bounced twice on the rim before falling off.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2025
In his speech, Trump played up his plans to impose tariffs on goods produced outside the United States.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 23 Jan. 2025
Trump tends to play up China’s growing dominance in zero-sum, they’re-eating-our-lunch terms.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
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Likewise, the sea environment needed to evoke both vastness and reclusiveness to highlight the isolated and tense mood of the story.—
Rafael Motamayor,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2025
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The transformation, which began last year, is meant to highlight the focus on BERGs in strengthening the employee community and workplace experience.—
Sara Fischer,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Trump and Vice President JD Vance have emphasized that cuts to Social Security and Medicare are largely off the table except for fraud and abuse.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
8 Feb. 2025
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However, Surya emphasized that her goal with This City is a Battlefield was never to make a documentary.—
Sara Merican,
Deadline,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Waltz pushed back on the idea that Europe and Ukraine had been sidelined, while Rubio appeared at pains to stress that any agreement will include Ukraine.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN,
18 Feb. 2025
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And instead of stressing over lottery odds and fantasizing about ping pong balls, the Nets are almost in position to do the unthinkable: punch their ticket to the postseason.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Solarium, for example, featured on many ships in its fleet, offers lounge space, whirlpools and more.—
Nathan Diller,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
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The 40th-anniversary special in 2015 featured a cold open with Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, a monologue from Steve Martin with a bevy of celebrity cameos, and sketches with more of the show's all-timers.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
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 21 Feb. 2025.
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