play to

verb

played to; playing to; plays to

1

: to behave or perform in a particular way for (someone or something) in order to get approval or attention

He didn't mean what he was saying. He was just playing to the crowd.

He loves publicity and plays to the cameras every chance he gets.

2

: to make use of (something)

a film that plays to stereotypes of housewives

In his latest album, he once again plays to his strengths as a classical musician.

Examples of play to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With rain falling in the second half, linebacker Nick Bolton slipped and fell on the Bronco’s explosive 22-yard play to Adam Trautman on the drive that ended in a score. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

The problems began early as FIU was stopped on its opening drive, Liberty needed just three plays to find the end zone and take a 7-0 lead. — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 1 Nov. 2026

The theatrics played to a large audience who had long argued that former leftist President Gustavo Petros’s policy of pursuing engagement with drug traffickers had left Colombia more vulnerable to organized crime. — Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

UConn had to score fast in the second half and did with one two-play 75-yard touchdown drive that took 30 seconds, and another that took four plays to go 87 yards in 54 seconds. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026

Rhymes for play to

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou