play with

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

The design plays with geometry, reflection and depth—think warm wood panelling, bronzed mirrors, walnut tables, brass accents and luminous geometric details, including a striking hexagonal counter. — Jaclyn Degiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Decades after the murder of an 11-year-old Georgia boy who disappeared after playing with his friends, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is continuing to search for his killer. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

What had come off as intuitive during the preseason suddenly looked like a team playing with too much spontaneity on defense, and with not enough on offense. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Layer a trio of your favorite knits, playing with weight and texture for a cozy combination. — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026