at play
idiom
1
: in the act of playing
the sounds of children at play
2
: being something that helps produce or influence a result
Several issues are at play in determining the price of gasoline.
Examples of at play in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Athletes who have leaked in the past, even after resolution, are nine times more likely to experience symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction later in life, according to a 2010 study, so there is a degree of future-proofing at play, too.
—
Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
The timing alongside Muttaqi’s visit to India—Pakistan’s arch-rival—underscores the complex India-Afghanistan-Pakistan geopolitics at play.
—Happymon Jacob, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Coe is convinced a destabilization strategy is at play.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
A number of different things are at play here.
—Julia Gaffield, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at play
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.
Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
The timing alongside Muttaqi’s visit to India—Pakistan’s arch-rival—underscores the complex India-Afghanistan-Pakistan geopolitics at play.
—Happymon Jacob, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Coe is convinced a destabilization strategy is at play.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
A number of different things are at play here.
—Julia Gaffield, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at play
Cite this Entry
“At play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20play. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share