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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Usually, such events are treated as add-ons, with VIPs often paying a premium to see artists play up close after sound check. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026 But the focus this week has been less about what the Mountaineers can do and more about how the defense can continue to play up to its standard. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026 Russia has also publicly acknowledged the drone attack on a refinery and broadcast images on state media, breaking with its usual practice in order to play up the incident. — Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026 The concealer, which comes in 25 shades, goes on top to add a subtle glow that plays up the color of the eyes. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for play up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up

Verb

The experience highlighted a central problem in warship procurement; selecting an existing design does not necessarily guarantee faster or cheaper construction if the customer substantially changes its architecture.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Indiana University School of Medicine virologist Natasha Tilston-Lunel highlights the Oropouche cases, but notes that the Schmallenberg virus, which is closely related to Shamonda, has been found to be widespread in livestock but not humans.

— Sahas Mehra, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of highlight

Verb

Both the Hesburgh Commission report in the early 1980s and the Jordan Commission report in the late 1990s emphasized the need for civic and social assimilation of immigrants.

— Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026
Out of the company’s 2,000 employees, about 1,800 are locals — for Baima, emphasizing local employment is in pursuit of a larger goal, which is to help employees gain confidence in their own culture and ensuring guests treat it with respect.

— Denni Hu, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of emphasize

Verb

Anthropic stressed that researchers deliberately fine-tuned these models for testing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Organizers focused on election protection efforts stress that the goal is to ensure every voter casts their vote and the person who gets the most votes is declared the winner — all regardless of political party.

— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026