play up
verb
played up; playing up; plays up
: emphasize
In the interview, try to play up your strengths.
Examples of play up in a Sentence
that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings
Recent Examples on the Web
Black also jokingly played up his lyrical recall skills.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
That dichotomy – Bianco focusing on genuine crime and Democrats playing up their opposition to Trump’s crime and immigration tactics – is worth noting.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
The Panthers, in the meantime, have already shown an innate ability to play up — or down — to their level of competition.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 23 Dec. 2025
That call meant middle linebacker Isaiah McDuffie was responsible for playing up the field between the hash marks to take away any vertical throws between the two safeties.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
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Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
That dichotomy – Bianco focusing on genuine crime and Democrats playing up their opposition to Trump’s crime and immigration tactics – is worth noting.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
The Panthers, in the meantime, have already shown an innate ability to play up — or down — to their level of competition.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 23 Dec. 2025
That call meant middle linebacker Isaiah McDuffie was responsible for playing up the field between the hash marks to take away any vertical throws between the two safeties.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20up. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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