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 an administration that plays up the language of inclusion and liberation, the absence of Black voices raises alarm.
—
Darius Jones, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Lately, Laine noted, the WWE’s star villain Becky Lynch has been using some familiar-sounding language while playing up her status as a sore loser.
—Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
This film adaptation cut out the second half of the book, downplayed the violence committed by Olivier’s character, Heathcliff, and played up the romance between Heathcliff and Oberon’s character, Cathy.
—Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Play with ring layering to play up your heart-nail designs.
—Paola Zamarripa, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for play up
Darius Jones, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Lately, Laine noted, the WWE’s star villain Becky Lynch has been using some familiar-sounding language while playing up her status as a sore loser.
—Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
This film adaptation cut out the second half of the book, downplayed the violence committed by Olivier’s character, Heathcliff, and played up the romance between Heathcliff and Oberon’s character, Cathy.
—Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Play with ring layering to play up your heart-nail designs.
—Paola Zamarripa, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
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After a child completes a screening, the coordinator can create a personalized literacy plan that highlights the areas that need more practice.—
MAKIYA SEMINERA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
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Ruger Riojas pitched a clean inning in the first, highlighted by a strikeout via elevated fastball.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Carvalho emphasized that the cuts for the next academic year do not include classroom teachers or an increase in class size.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
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Most Buddhist sects acknowledge the spiritual significance of relics even if some teachers have tried to shift the focus to Buddha's teachings that emphasize mindfulness and kindness.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bankers are stressing that Press Ganey, which conducts patient satisfaction surveys for healthcare providers, is a safer bet because Medicare requires that data for reimbursements.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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As Bove has often stressed, her interests lie as much in the display as in the choice of objects.—
Gordon Hughes,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Big fun will arrive in tiny packages at the eighth annual Dairy Block Petite Parade, which plays off Mardi Gras and features miniature floats built from a shoebox base, and pulled on wheels.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
26 Feb. 2026
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All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors.—
Hannah Coates,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20up. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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