play up
verb
played up; playing up; plays up
: emphasize
In the interview, try to play up your strengths.
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
This film adaptation cut out the second half of the book, downplayed the violence committed by Olivier’s character, Heathcliff, and played up the romance between Heathcliff and Oberon’s character, Cathy.
—
Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Play with ring layering to play up your heart-nail designs.
—Paola Zamarripa, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the Gators struggled mightily in the trenches during Billy Napier’s four-year tenure, posting three losing seasons marked by inconsistency and undisciplined play up front.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Other commercials played up the surreal.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for play up
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Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Play with ring layering to play up your heart-nail designs.
—Paola Zamarripa, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the Gators struggled mightily in the trenches during Billy Napier’s four-year tenure, posting three losing seasons marked by inconsistency and undisciplined play up front.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Other commercials played up the surreal.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for play up
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20up. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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