at play
idiom
1
: in the act of playing
the sounds of children at play
2
: being something that helps produce or influence a result
Several issues are at play in determining the price of gasoline.
Examples of at play in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Other factors at play include more expensive medications and technologically advanced diagnostic tests, along with increasing corporate consolidation and the growing presence in the industry of private equity firms.
—
Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
But that does not mean there was not a quid pro quo at play, too.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
That isn’t to say there aren’t other factors at play; Austin, for instance, has its own set of weaknesses.
—Byalena Botros, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
The Italian writer and director Alice Rohrwacher may be the most quietly mischievous time traveller at work—or at play—in contemporary cinema.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
At the time, the New York Times reported some police officials believed the idea of a game being at play in such assaults was an urban myth.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
But younger partners in particular also need to be wary of the gender, social and power dynamics at play.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
What appeared different this time, experts said, were the new pressures at play, particularly on Israel, with Washington’s impatience with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nearing a breaking point just as domestic anger in Israel is surging.
—Claire Parker, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The mechanism for the improvement is still unclear, though Herland says several factors could be at play.
—IEEE Spectrum, 8 Apr. 2024
Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
But that does not mean there was not a quid pro quo at play, too.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
That isn’t to say there aren’t other factors at play; Austin, for instance, has its own set of weaknesses.
—Byalena Botros, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
The Italian writer and director Alice Rohrwacher may be the most quietly mischievous time traveller at work—or at play—in contemporary cinema.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
At the time, the New York Times reported some police officials believed the idea of a game being at play in such assaults was an urban myth.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
But younger partners in particular also need to be wary of the gender, social and power dynamics at play.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
What appeared different this time, experts said, were the new pressures at play, particularly on Israel, with Washington’s impatience with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nearing a breaking point just as domestic anger in Israel is surging.
—Claire Parker, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
The mechanism for the improvement is still unclear, though Herland says several factors could be at play.
—IEEE Spectrum, 8 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at play.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near at play
Cite this Entry
“At play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20play. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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