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
Becerra’s rivals played up his connection to a corruption case involving a former aide and advisor, though the former attorney general has not been accused of wrongdoing.
—
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Speaking to students, Bell played up his bona fides as a former Southeastern Conference leader who oversaw one of the nation’s most successful athletic programs and three national championship titles.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
Under former creative director Jonathan Anderson, the fashion brand played up that connection through numerous high-profile collaborations with artists ranging from Lynda Benglis to Richard Hawkins.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 2 June 2026
Dooley played up his status as a first-time candidate and, despite Republicans controlling the House, Senate and White House, hit Collins as being part of a do-nothing government.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for play up
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Speaking to students, Bell played up his bona fides as a former Southeastern Conference leader who oversaw one of the nation’s most successful athletic programs and three national championship titles.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
Under former creative director Jonathan Anderson, the fashion brand played up that connection through numerous high-profile collaborations with artists ranging from Lynda Benglis to Richard Hawkins.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 2 June 2026
Dooley played up his status as a first-time candidate and, despite Republicans controlling the House, Senate and White House, hit Collins as being part of a do-nothing government.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
-
The postmortem highlighted nearly two dozen laws that the city attorney’s office identified as affecting Meridian city business, some requiring minor tweaks to standard practices and others necessitating city-code overhauls.—
Rose Evans
June 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 June 2026
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More than 4,000 shoppers purchased this pool in the past month alone, with reviewers frequently highlighting its durability, quality, and roomy design.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Total football remade soccer worldwide by emphasizing movement and pressure on the ball and the interchangeability of positions, laying the groundwork for the modern incarnation of the sport.—
Leander Schaerlaeckens
June 8,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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The analyst also emphasized VNOM's attractive capital returns framework.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
7 June 2026
Verb
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At the time, officials stressed that the ordinance was not aimed at homeless individuals, but anyone who could create fire risk.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
-
The soil underneath grass becomes compacted, stressed, and weakened under foot traffic, making way for clover to take over.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Prominently, Laviolette’s teams have featured defensemen who liberally join the rush and get involved in five-man cycles, concepts that were largely foreign to the Kings’ corps last season.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
11 June 2026
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All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20up. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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