play with

phrasal verb

played with; playing with; plays with

1

: to move or handle (something) with one's hands or fingers often without thinking

Stop playing with that pen and pay attention to what I'm saying.

2

: to handle, change, or deal with (something) in a careless way

I played with the radio for a while but couldn't get it to work.

It's important to teach your children not to play with guns/fire/matches.

Don't play with my heart/emotions.

You have to take this seriously. You're playing with people's lives!

3

: to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously

I played with the idea of moving to Chicago but ended up staying in New York.

Examples of play with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Taking inspiration from The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Douglas Sirk melodramas of the '50s, director Ti West delights in playing with contrasts in Pearl, adorning grisly murders and a terrifying lead performance with a sumptuous score and rich, saturated colors. —Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025

After missing time with thumb surgery and a previous hamstring strain, Coulibaly now plays with a protective wrap on his right hand. —Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

Lady Gaga has worn the habit in music videos and on tour, while designers including Rick Owens have frequently played with the cloth caps’ austere form. —Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025

But that year of experience was vital for Robinson to understand how to use his athletic gifts to attack defenses and how playing with pace is more than just trying to fly by your matchup every trip down the court. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2025