play at

verb

played at; playing at; plays at

1

: to do (something) in a way that is not serious

They were only playing at trying to fix the problem.

2

chiefly British : to play by pretending to be (someone or something)

She liked to play at doctors and nurses as a child.

—often used in the phrase play at being (something)

boys playing at being soldiers

3

British

—used to say in an annoyed way that one does not know the reason for someone's behavior

What is he playing at?

Examples of play at in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Commerce is playing at Prince Avenue Christian for first place in Region 8-2A on Friday. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026

The Irish band — Bono, the Edge, and two other guys who didn't get the memo on cool nicknames — will play at halftime during Netflix's Thanksgiving Eve game between the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Video played at the trial showed Fairbarn holding the flamingo in an elevator and carrying it down a hotel hallway at the famous hotel. — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

The Saints traveled directly to Paris after playing at the New York Giants and are practicing in the area this week. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for play at

• begat
• bobcat
• chitchat
• doormat
• ducat
• eclat
• format
• hazmat
• muskrat
• nonfat
• polecat
• thereat