1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

plays up

verb

present tense third-person singular of play up
as in emphasizes
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 The book is enlivened by Andersen’s gift for satire, which plays up the comic potential of ideological extremes. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 Unsurprisingly, the Elie Saab H&M collection plays up after-dark glamour, and just in time for holiday party season, too. — Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026 As Berenger and Rogers are drawn into an affair, Scott plays up the contrast between her wealthy Upper East Side world and his working-class life in an outer borough. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Cox, who grew up a fan of Dodgers utilityman Chris Taylor, is a primary outfielder but has impressed during his brief time at second base, making several difficult plays up the middle. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026 In advertisements, Tiffany plays up his roots on a Wisconsin dairy farm and love of the Green Bay Packers and a brandy old fashioned. — Clay Masters, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 Keserich plays up short commute times and relative affordability when pitching the region to businesses as a vice president of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 19 June 2026 This blunt cut by stylist Shaylee Blatz plays up thickness but doesn't look weighed down. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 16 June 2026 This stainless steel iteration is a sleeker iteration that loses the embellishment of traditional ceramics but plays up the streamlined elegance. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plays up
  1. emphasizes
  2. highlights
  3. features
  4. stresses
Verb
  • That perspective emphasizes paying attention to everyday choices.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Moor explains how this form of thought emphasizes branching, growth, and pruning, as opposed to hierarchical ordering, and shows how these principles can be identified in the work of writers like Tolstoy and Wordsworth.
    — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of emphasizes
Verb
  • The report highlights that even as fiber lines are extended into rural areas and billions of federal and state dollars are deployed, affordability and access remain insurmountable barriers for many families.
    — Erin Mote, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The expansion also highlights growing international investment in North Carolina.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of highlights
Verb
  • In a squad that features Kylian Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, Diomande can work his way into the first XI rather than arrive with the responsibility of solving a glaring problem.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The nicest of the quartet, Springfield features a large clubhouse, a beautiful practice area with an oversized putting green and a challenging 6,906-yard course that is hilly, woody and will ask you to hit lots of precise shots.
    — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of features
Verb
  • The report stresses how Kansas City is a relatively small sports market compared to the rest of the country.
    — Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • This test places stresses on the edge far beyond typical EDC tasks.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of stresses

Browse Nearby Words

plays out
plays up
plays (upon)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plays up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plays%20up. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of watershed

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All