play down
verb
played down; playing down; plays down
: to attach little importance to : minimize
He humbly played down his role in the research.
Examples of play down in a Sentence
out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments
if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve
Recent Examples on the Web
The continent’s cautious response to the war in Iran, and Trump’s broader threats, have sparked fears that a diplomatic divide could escalate into another trade confrontation, but one expert played down the rift between the trans-Atlantic partners.
—
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
In the interview, Kifowit has played down the urgency of modernizing the comptroller’s office, saying improvements are already underway.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
And at times, Orlando appeared to play down to the level of the Wizards, who turned the ball over 14 times for 23 Magic points.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
But Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday played down growing worry about the economic impact on oil shipments from the Middle East, saying Japan has oil reserves at home that can last for several months.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for play down
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Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
In the interview, Kifowit has played down the urgency of modernizing the comptroller’s office, saying improvements are already underway.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
And at times, Orlando appeared to play down to the level of the Wizards, who turned the ball over 14 times for 23 Magic points.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
But Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday played down growing worry about the economic impact on oil shipments from the Middle East, saying Japan has oil reserves at home that can last for several months.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for play down
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20down. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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