as in highlighting
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
Relevance
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 playing up
En route to his Week 10 assignment in Tampa in 2001, Fox’s lead NFL analyst may have been preaching to the choir—the reporter who took down those words was with the Chicago Tribune—but the big fella seated at the front of the Madden Cruiser wasn’t just playing up the hype man role.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Even as wedding registries shift and honeymoon funds replace fine china, antique case pieces and modern iterations of china cabinets are on the rise again—dovetailing with modern maximalism’s emphasis on playing up your home’s personality and the design world’s recent sweet spot for nostalgia.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
And Fosse emphasized Snider’s Fosse-like qualities, playing up Snider’s creative side.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Nails will be modern and cool, playing up your aesthetic without overpowering it.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Williams said the challenging part of the series was playing up the rivalry between his character and his co-star and onscreen love interest, Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
That dichotomy – Bianco focusing on genuine crime and Democrats playing up their opposition to Trump’s crime and immigration tactics – is worth noting.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
Also, Tua Tagovailoa was told this week to stop thinking and just play and the team practiced playing up tempo more.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Vincent and Reaves are both playing up a spot from their more natural positions, although the 6-foot-6 Doncic could be matched up against Podziemski on defense for much of the night.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Even as wedding registries shift and honeymoon funds replace fine china, antique case pieces and modern iterations of china cabinets are on the rise again—dovetailing with modern maximalism’s emphasis on playing up your home’s personality and the design world’s recent sweet spot for nostalgia.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
And Fosse emphasized Snider’s Fosse-like qualities, playing up Snider’s creative side.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Nails will be modern and cool, playing up your aesthetic without overpowering it.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Williams said the challenging part of the series was playing up the rivalry between his character and his co-star and onscreen love interest, Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
That dichotomy – Bianco focusing on genuine crime and Democrats playing up their opposition to Trump’s crime and immigration tactics – is worth noting.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
Also, Tua Tagovailoa was told this week to stop thinking and just play and the team practiced playing up tempo more.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Vincent and Reaves are both playing up a spot from their more natural positions, although the 6-foot-6 Doncic could be matched up against Podziemski on defense for much of the night.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing up
Verb
-
Fowlescombe is all about highlighting local talent.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
At trial, Smock presents a CT scan highlighting Kevin's injuries, the multiple fractures to his head.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In his remarkably faithful adaptation of Reid’s novel, Tierney manages to accomplish this tricky narrative task by emphasizing three particularly moving declarations of love, each of which speak to the possibilities and limitations baked into the romance genre.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
At store level, these filter down to emphasizing culture, capability, and collaboration as the engines of the company’s next phase of growth.—
Kevin Rozario,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The changes are affecting routes to Israel, parts of the GCC, and Jordan, with airlines stressing that the measures are precautionary and subject to constant operational review.—
Hana Al-Khodairi,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In both instances, Copenhagen and the Greenlandic government in its capital Nuuk responded by expressing openness to further collaboration, stressing the importance of sovereignty and dispatching a high-level delegation for talks in Washington.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Curated by Arens and featuring poster art of Grammy winners, the exhibition is set to open Friday, two days before the 2026 Grammys descend on the city, and just in time to welcome plenty of visiting celebrity faces to the gallery’s third-ever event.—
Lina Lecaro,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Nonetheless, Madonna added another slide featuring the cover of Styles’ upcoming album Kiss All the Time.—
Denise Warner,
Billboard,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20up. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
