PLAY UP Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

play up

verb

Definition of play up

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of play up And the Dolphins’ veteran tackles haven’t played up to expectations this season. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026 The hotel plays up its proximity to ACL Live, with framed photographs of the show and an Austin City Limits coffee table book of images captured by the same photographer. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026 As for the rest of the roster, the Yankees decided Friday that Gerrit Cole would start Game 1, a decision driven by how Cole’s stuff plays up at the Trop. — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 While Nembhard and Whitmore can play up to 50 NBA games for Denver this season on their two-way contracts, training camp invitee Lonnie Walker IV isn’t eligible to sign a two-way anymore due to his seven years of NBA service time. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for play up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up

Verb

Despite his history with Holmes, Carreyrou said the film ultimately helped highlight some of Holmes’ contradictions.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
While other members of the Biden administration have defended Becerra’s performance, his time at the helm highlighted an issue that even allies concede has bedeviled Becerra in the past, his tendency to sometimes recede into the background.

— Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of highlight

Verb

Both local governments filed their briefs to the Supreme Court this week, emphasizing their arguments that the bans are lawful because the AR-15 and similar weapons are not ordinary firearms.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2026
Officials emphasized that machines are tested before each election and that in most jurisdictions, there is a postelection audit that consists of a manual hand count of a sample of paper ballots.

— Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of emphasize

Verb

And even for those who are just ordinarily stressed, being around horses can be calming and restorative — part of a somatic healing approach, which focuses on how the body holds on to emotions.

— Ondine Cohane, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2026
And not to stress anybody out further, but high cortisol suppresses your immune system and increases inflammation, both of which lead to things like quicker aging and poor long-term health outcomes.

— Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of stress

Verb

Ramaswamy’s campaign released a video featuring Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, who tells viewers not to vote for her daughter.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
The Six Kings Slam tennis tournament—which was set to feature Grand Slam champions Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev—has also been postponed.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026