play to
phrasal verb
played to; playing to; plays to
1
: to behave or perform in a particular way for (someone or something) in order to get approval or attention
He didn't mean what he was saying. He was just playing to the crowd.
He loves publicity and plays to the cameras every chance he gets.
2
: to make use of (something)
a film that plays to stereotypes of housewives
In his latest album, he once again plays to his strengths as a classical musician.
Examples of play to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Saif al-Islam Gadhafi was once seen as the heir-apparent to his dictator father –– who was executed after his regime was toppled at the height of the Arab Spring protests in 2011 –– and had in recent years been making a play to return to politics in Libya.
—
Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Jacquet also has the ability to switch play to both sides of the pitch.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
When Drake would break off a 60-yard run but get stopped at the 5, Mark would purposely call a play to allow somebody else to score.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
Among the shows, Buena Vista Social Club, which opened in March 2025, continues to be a solid performer, bringing in close to $900,000 last week and playing to 94 percent capacity.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for play to
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Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Jacquet also has the ability to switch play to both sides of the pitch.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
When Drake would break off a 60-yard run but get stopped at the 5, Mark would purposely call a play to allow somebody else to score.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
Among the shows, Buena Vista Social Club, which opened in March 2025, continues to be a solid performer, bringing in close to $900,000 last week and playing to 94 percent capacity.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for play to
Cite this Entry
“Play to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20to. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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