play down

verb

played down; playing down; plays down
Synonyms of play downnext

transitive verb

: to attach little importance to : minimize
He humbly played down his role in the research.

Examples of play down in a Sentence

out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Ohtani was out of the lineup for the series opener against the Orioles, but the Dodgers did not opt to put him on the paternity list, temporarily playing down a player instead. Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026 Rutte confirmed the drawdown but played down its impact. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 Against Costa Rica, when Konsa started alongside Stones, the Aston Villa man frequently became the central player in a back three, while Stones would look to progress play down the left. Thom Harris, New York Times, 17 June 2026 Next play down, get it to Towns to draw a double and release to Mikal Bridges, who finds Alvarado all alone on the weakside for an easy three. Kyle Wagner, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for play down

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of play down was in 1930

Cite this Entry

“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20down. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

play down

verb
: to attach little importance to : minimize

More from Merriam-Webster on play down

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster