play up

verb

played up; playing up; plays up
Synonyms of play upnext

transitive verb

: emphasize
In the interview, try to play up your strengths.
also : exaggerate, overemphasize
It was only a small achievement but the CEO really played it up.

Synonyms of play up

Relevance
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Examples of play up in a Sentence

that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Willis, who was heterosexual, was happy to play up homoeroticism on stage and on record but joined the group in presenting a more muted media presence as their fame rocketed. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026 Sound can also be manually configured to only play up front, if, say, someone was sleeping in the back, or only in the rear, if someone’s watching a movie that the driver doesn’t need to hear. — Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 19 June 2026 However, my preferred styling is to play up the sneakers's casual nature with understated bottoms, such as long Bermuda shorts or loose-fitting jeans. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 21 June 2026 At 6-foot-6, Bennett's size helps boost an elite extension profile to go with a ton of horizontal movement, which helps his 93-mph four-seamer play up in the zone. — John Laghezza, New York Times, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for play up

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of play up was in 1814

Rhymes for play up

See All Rhymes for play up

Browse Nearby Words

play truant
play up
play upon
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

play up

verb
: emphasize

More from Merriam-Webster on play up

Nglish: Translation of play up for Spanish Speakers

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