play to

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

To that end, here are the best rom-coms based on Shakespeare plays to watch—or rewatch—now. — Jessica Barrett, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026

Kathleen Hanna was at least as agog as any of the rest of us at the realization the band was playing to a pretty full and definitely engaged field of (primarily) women, something that would have seemed like science-fiction in their heyday. — Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026

Drawing up a bubble screen lateral from your own 25, and the trusting that the receiver A) stays behind the line of scrimmage, and then B) gets the ball down field enough to give his guy a chance is such a ballsy play to draw up. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

The Chiefs on Friday ended their preseason losing streak, which had dated to 2023, by playing to a humdrum 9-9 tie with the Seahawks at Arrowhead Stadium. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for play to

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou