PLAY UP Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

play up

verb

Definition of play up

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

Example 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 Under-eye shadows, bags and lower-lid definition get played up instead of concealed. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Vance has been playing up to MAGA lately, going hard on immigration and confronting reporters similar to his boss. — Joe Battenfeld, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 State Farm is playing up its personalized plans with a couple of spots that feature Mahomes, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid makes an appearance in one of the ads. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026 Boobie had also been playing up one — or two even — age levels. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for play up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up

Verb

This space is divided into several thematic areas to highlight the role that the university, its faculty, its students, and other folks affiliated with it have played in a range of topics.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Marcet also highlights midfielder Juan Hernandez, defender Landry Farre and forward Shane Kluivert (son of ex-Barcelona and Netherlands striker Patrick Kluivert), each of whom is still at the club.

— Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of highlight

Verb

At the separate meetings with Hun Sen and Hun Manet, Min Aung Hlaing emphasized that Myanmar was working to strengthen cooperation within ASEAN, MRTV said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Scholarly writing about slavery in the Americas—which has mostly centered on Black enslavement—has emphasized its economic value in building plantations, wealth, and American capitalism.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of emphasize

Verb

Zelensky has previously stressed said that an acute shortage of air defense interceptors has left Ukraine vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
And getting started, Dunlap stresses, does not require becoming an expert or having a perfect financial plan.

— Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026