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
De Haan said the same market forces at play now could keep prices under pressure.
—
Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025
But there are other, more nuanced factors at play.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
The possibility that a previously undocumented avenue of inheritance is at play is too important to ignore.
—Ivan Amato, Quanta Magazine, 22 Dec. 2025
However, beneath the surface, more nefarious deeds are at play.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at play
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Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025
But there are other, more nuanced factors at play.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
The possibility that a previously undocumented avenue of inheritance is at play is too important to ignore.
—Ivan Amato, Quanta Magazine, 22 Dec. 2025
However, beneath the surface, more nefarious deeds are at play.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 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 28 Dec. 2025.
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