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

Elsewhere, Hailey Bieber gave us a lesson in polished wedding guest glam, while Joey King played with the little details on the Practical Magic 2 promo tour. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2026

She’s played with a darkly enigmatic, unnerving quality by James in her finest work to date — a knowing, even domineering smile often curling around her lips. — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

At Valentino, the house played with layering—a double-layered dress, pastel purple tights paired with a pair of red pumps—in its fall-winter 2026–2027 collection. — Elise Fabre, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2026

Receiver Pryce Demerson also made a big play with 19-yard TD reception from junior QB Jahzeel McCradic, who subbed in for Torres. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026