play up

verb

played up; playing up; plays up

transitive verb

: emphasize

In the interview, try to play up your strengths.

also : exaggerate, overemphasize

It was only a small achievement but the CEO really played it up.

Synonyms of play up

• highlight
• emphasize
• stress
• feature
• point (up)

Examples of play up in a Sentence

that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings

Recent Examples on the Web

Install your curtains a bit higher above the windows than may be obvious to play up a room’s height. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 14 July 2026

There’s none of the sultriness of contrast played up by Gérôme for mystique, and also no timeless air. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Prior to the new eligibility model, football players could play up to four regular-season games and still preserve a year of eligibility. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026

Under the old system, football players could play up to four regular seasons plus postseason games in a redshirt year without the season counting against the four-season cap. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for play up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

play up

verb

: emphasize