play to
phrasal verb
played to; playing to; plays to
1
: to behave or perform in a particular way for (someone or something) in order to get approval or attention
He didn't mean what he was saying. He was just playing to the crowd.
He loves publicity and plays to the cameras every chance he gets.
2
: to make use of (something)
a film that plays to stereotypes of housewives
In his latest album, he once again plays to his strengths as a classical musician.
Examples of play to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eleven parishioners are busy rehearsing a thrilling Western play to be presented next week.
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Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Okpara’s transition lay-up tied the game at 69-69 with 1:41 remaining, but on Wake’s next possession, Stanford’s Ryan Agarwal fouled Cameron Hildreth, who made both ends of a 1-and-1 with 1:20 to play to put the Demon Deacons ahead to stay.
—Harold Gutmann, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025
Two nights after taking the league’s reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets down to the wire, the Charlotte Hornets continued a season-long trend of playing to the level of their opponent in a 124-114 loss to the Washington Wizards on Monday at Spectrum Center.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2025
This could also be a play to increase his trade value a bit.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for play to 
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Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Okpara’s transition lay-up tied the game at 69-69 with 1:41 remaining, but on Wake’s next possession, Stanford’s Ryan Agarwal fouled Cameron Hildreth, who made both ends of a 1-and-1 with 1:20 to play to put the Demon Deacons ahead to stay.
—Harold Gutmann, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025
Two nights after taking the league’s reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets down to the wire, the Charlotte Hornets continued a season-long trend of playing to the level of their opponent in a 124-114 loss to the Washington Wizards on Monday at Spectrum Center.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2025
This could also be a play to increase his trade value a bit.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for play to
Dictionary Entries Near play to
Cite this Entry
“Play to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20to. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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