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

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said before tipoff Sunday that the team was prepared to play with or without Wembanyama, who was listed as questionable going into the game. —Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026

Moore reads his keys and plays with good discipline for proper positioning as a split-field safety. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026

His teammates liked playing with him. —Doug Haller, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026

At the New York City premiere on April 13, Hathaway embraced a futuristic, sculptural aesthetic on the red carpet, turning heads in a sheer gown that played with light and movement. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026