as in to highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of play up
Balmain’s latest presentation also played up animal prints, particularly zebra — a pattern used by the label’s founder, Pierre Balmain.
—
Hannah Malach, WWD, 6 Mar. 2025
The Dolphins’ love for guys that can play up and down the o-line is certainly well-documented.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2025
An important location for writers and artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the 138-year-old destination today plays up its intellectual and artistic history with literary gatherings, poetry workshops and live music.
—Evan Rail, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
The Liberal Party ad played up many trite but true Canadian stereotypes and jokes that are not going to cut it during this sobering election campaign.
—Paula Newton, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Hannah Malach, WWD, 6 Mar. 2025
The Dolphins’ love for guys that can play up and down the o-line is certainly well-documented.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2025
An important location for writers and artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the 138-year-old destination today plays up its intellectual and artistic history with literary gatherings, poetry workshops and live music.
—Evan Rail, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
The Liberal Party ad played up many trite but true Canadian stereotypes and jokes that are not going to cut it during this sobering election campaign.
—Paula Newton, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
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The White House released a fact sheet on Friday that highlighted a 2005 New York Times article lamenting the U.S. trade deficit and a 2009 statement from famed Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker blaming the Great Recession on trade imbalances.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Apr. 2025
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Öztürk, a former Fulbright scholar in a doctoral program at Tufts University, was stunned to find out in early March that she had been targeted by a pro-Israel group that highlighted an op-ed she co-wrote last year criticizing the school’s response to the war in Gaza.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Blockchain Association emphasizes the lack of developer control over user funds, while Coin Center argues that the defendants’ activity doesn’t justify sanctions liability.—
Andrea Tinianow,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Shearing emphasized that there are no true winners in a tariff war, as higher prices harm consumers and disrupt global supply chains.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Second report also says consumers are stressed An unrelated index to the Kearney survey is also showing some consumers are taking a defensive mode to their spending.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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Related article Trump envoy stresses need for verification in Iran nuclear talks Comments from Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who represented the US last weekend, have suggested differently as of late.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The playlist features a mix of entertaining and educational songs.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
17 Apr. 2025
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In 2001, the series’ sixth season featured one of its most innovative and revered episodes, the musical Once More, with Feeling.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20up. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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