as in highlights
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 plays up
If Love plays up to his full potential, Green Bay should be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
—
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays up
Verb
-
Our 20th anniversary retrospective, compiled by contributing editor Mary Scott, highlights many of these notable game-changers featured on our cover pages.—
Naazneen Karmali,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
At the same time, the steady growth of domestic species reflects our push for productivity but also highlights unsustainable demands for land, feed, and water.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Verizon emphasizes simple pricing and provides promotional discounts for customers who bundle with a Verizon mobile plan.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The company emphasizes 360° capture, low inertia, and direct-drive operation for low noise and minimal maintenance.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An upstairs gallery features goods from regional artisans, and every Saturday night, the store turns into a music venue with a live bluegrass show that’s broadcast all over the world.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The Lovevook Tote features a padded laptop compartment and multiple interior pockets, accommodating everything from a wallet to lip gloss.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Andrea Christensen, director of Education, Schooling, and Society (ESS) at the University of Notre Dame, stresses the importance of open dialogue and communal support for teachers.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Auroop Ganguly, Northeastern’s distinguished professor of civil and environmental engineering, stresses caution.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plays up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays%20up. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share