as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of play up
For his audience, Guede played up the resilience that 2Africa would provide his country.
—
Samanth Subramanian, The Dial, 14 Oct. 2025
There is a gym, a locker room with showers and three top-of-the-line Trackman golf simulators where people can play up to 450 golf courses.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
At 6-2, 215, he is built well for the position and plays up to his size with his on-field physicality.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
As the officials tried to break the play up, Crump was seen pushing one official.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Samanth Subramanian, The Dial, 14 Oct. 2025
There is a gym, a locker room with showers and three top-of-the-line Trackman golf simulators where people can play up to 450 golf courses.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
At 6-2, 215, he is built well for the position and plays up to his size with his on-field physicality.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
As the officials tried to break the play up, Crump was seen pushing one official.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
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The deal highlights Washington’s push to secure critical minerals and rare earths outside China, a move aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing, defense capabilities, and emerging technology sectors that rely on rare earth magnets.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Oct. 2025
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Thousands of reviewers have highlighted how soft and cozy the pad feels.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The five-year plan in focus this week is expected to emphasize China’s economic security and technological innovation in sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, new energy and biotechnology.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
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Movement organizers have emphasized nonviolent action and conducted safety training to promote de-escalation techniques.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These demonstrations also stress a commitment to nonviolence.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
15 Oct. 2025
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Plants spend all of their energy on flowering, so dividing during bloom time can stress their root development.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The festival featured the Little Sugar Mountain Bike Race Sunday and is set to continue through this Sunday, including the Big Sugar Gravel Race and Gravel Rave after-party Saturday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Oct. 2025
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Sunday’s matchup will feature a movable object clashing with a stoppable force.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20up. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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