as in highlighted
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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Recent Examples of played up
The City manager made several bold tactical changes for the first leg at the Bernabeu, returning Nico O’Reilly to left-back and starting both Jeremy Doku and Savinho on the wings, as well as Antoine Semenyo, who played up front alongside Erling Haaland.
—
James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Following a devastating turn on The Wire, Jordan played up the drama on the ABC soap opera All My Children.
—Ken Simmons, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Natasha Zinko played up the fades of men’s blue jeans.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 3 Mar. 2026
Roy Nwaisser, who chairs the Encino Neighborhood Council’s public safety committee, said that Flock often played up the shortage of police officers during its presentations to residents in his neighborhood.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
The film’s press campaign has, quite reasonably, played up the magnificence of Skarsgård’s body in leather and winked at the transgressiveness on display.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 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
Mars’ Pringles tapped Sabrina Carpenter for its Super Bowl commercial, but played up attributes of the snack.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
The governor’s campaign played up her Patriots fandom this week in an email that featured a photo of the governor wearing a Drake Maye jersey.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Following a devastating turn on The Wire, Jordan played up the drama on the ABC soap opera All My Children.
—Ken Simmons, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Natasha Zinko played up the fades of men’s blue jeans.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 3 Mar. 2026
Roy Nwaisser, who chairs the Encino Neighborhood Council’s public safety committee, said that Flock often played up the shortage of police officers during its presentations to residents in his neighborhood.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
The film’s press campaign has, quite reasonably, played up the magnificence of Skarsgård’s body in leather and winked at the transgressiveness on display.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 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
Mars’ Pringles tapped Sabrina Carpenter for its Super Bowl commercial, but played up attributes of the snack.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
The governor’s campaign played up her Patriots fandom this week in an email that featured a photo of the governor wearing a Drake Maye jersey.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for played up
Verb
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Westman highlighted that the X3 offers cost-effective engagements below $5 per shot and sustained defense without the reload limitations of traditional defense systems.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
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Romero highlighted the inclusion of Pete Geren, Ahdieh, Galindo and Berdeja.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Airport leadership also emphasized that the project is part of a broader strategy to test new technologies that improve airport operations and passenger experience.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
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Tom Schmid, president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, emphasized the broader importance of the calf’s arrival.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Posting on his Truth Social platform, the president stressed the importance of the special election.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
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As days turn into weeks for the partial government shutdown, Transportation Security Administration officers are being stressed to the max.—
John Wayne Ferguson,
Houston Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Both featured the song playing in the background of video clips featuring NBA superstars Steph Curry and Michael Jordan on the basketball court.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
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The cast’s first season also featured Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Glenn Close, and others.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Played up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/played%20up. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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