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

Dutcher toyed with it in practice earlier this month and actually used it out of desperation in the closing minutes of regulation against Troy, when his team came from 12 points down to force overtime before losing. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025

Like all creatures of the Upside Down, heat is its kryptonite, and Kay toys with Hopper by toying with the temperature in the room. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025

Heading into the midterm elections next year, two of the nation’s largest states are toying with some of these irresponsible policies. —Mary Ellen Klas, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025

The blazer of the look toyed with angles and harsh lines, from the slanted hip pockets to the sinuous and sharp lapels. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025