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
Bregman, an elite infield defender, will likely play third base while top prospects Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell play up the middle.
—
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Only players with less than four years of playing experience in the NBA are eligible and those players can only play up to 50 NBA games in a season.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2025
These days, what’s trending in beauty (largely proliferated by Gen Z users on TikTok) is a more refined, natural look that plays up one’s unique features.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025
Henry Thrun Thrun has played up and down the Sharks’ defense and occasionally logs big minutes.
—Eric Stephens, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Only players with less than four years of playing experience in the NBA are eligible and those players can only play up to 50 NBA games in a season.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2025
These days, what’s trending in beauty (largely proliferated by Gen Z users on TikTok) is a more refined, natural look that plays up one’s unique features.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025
Henry Thrun Thrun has played up and down the Sharks’ defense and occasionally logs big minutes.
—Eric Stephens, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
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With over 6,000 wineries in 65 appellations, Bordeaux can be a confusing category for wine drinkers, especially when faced with dozens of lookalike bottles on a store shelf, so the 2025 Cru Bourgeois du Médoc helps cut through the fog and highlights the best of the best.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
9 Mar. 2025
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For those who don’t want to walk through the ship for the narrative, the Virgin Voyages app highlights the times and spots where the skits will take place.—
Josh Rivera,
USA TODAY,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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To Begin Developing This Trait: Practice presenting data to different audiences, and emphasize the human element of change management.—
Ben Jones,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Whitaker emphasized that a key part of his role would be pushing NATO members to meet Trump's demand to invest at least 5% of their GDP in defense.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Kang stressed this finding is supported by public records as well as materials provided by the government.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
2 Mar. 2025
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Professor Sawhney stressed that these applications are not standalone solutions but part of a broader AI ecosystem, combining traditional machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI to deliver optimal results.—
Taarini Kaur Dang,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The intimate dinner featured familiar New York fashion faces — Emily Ratajkowski, Evan Mock, Iris Apatow, editors — as well as a few guests who are more likely to be found outside, like freeride skier Dennis Ranalter.—
Kristen Tauer,
WWD,
28 Feb. 2025
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Lim co-wrote the script for the hit Crazy Rich Asians feature from Warner Bros. released in 2018 with Peter Chiarelli.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20up. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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