toy with

phrasal verb

toyed with; toying with; toys with

1

: to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously

I toyed with the idea of moving to France but ended up staying here.

2

: to move or touch (something) with one's fingers often without thinking

She toyed with her hair while she talked on the phone.

3

: to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way

Do you really love me, or are you just toying with me?

Don't toy with my emotions.

Examples of toy with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Róhe toyed with the classic button-down, giving it a double collar for an intriguing visual spin; The Row took on the challenge on a styling the black legging for everyday by turning into a kind of stocking, paired back to tailored outerwear. —Minty Mellon, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026

Throw out any toys with broken parts or mildew. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026

Polis, meanwhile, has recently publicly toyed with the idea of easing Peters’ sentence. —Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026

They were first shown new toys with owners naming the toys directly, and in a second test, discussed new toys and the toys' names with another person, but not directly with their dog. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026