as in highlighting
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of playing up
The cuddly canines and spirited mutts making up Team Fluff and Team Ruff will battle for the coveted Lombarky Trophy, while also playing up for the cameras in hopes of finding their forever home.
—
Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2026
At Anfield, both wingers began the game, with Gordon playing up front as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa sat on the substitutes’ bench.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Next-generation geothermal developers are staying the course but playing up the industry’s crossovers with oil and gas.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Jan. 2026
En route to his Week 10 assignment in Tampa in 2001, Fox’s lead NFL analyst may have been preaching to the choir—the reporter who took down those words was with the Chicago Tribune—but the big fella seated at the front of the Madden Cruiser wasn’t just playing up the hype man role.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Even as wedding registries shift and honeymoon funds replace fine china, antique case pieces and modern iterations of china cabinets are on the rise again—dovetailing with modern maximalism’s emphasis on playing up your home’s personality and the design world’s recent sweet spot for nostalgia.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
And Fosse emphasized Snider’s Fosse-like qualities, playing up Snider’s creative side.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Nails will be modern and cool, playing up your aesthetic without overpowering it.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Williams said the challenging part of the series was playing up the rivalry between his character and his co-star and onscreen love interest, Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2026
At Anfield, both wingers began the game, with Gordon playing up front as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa sat on the substitutes’ bench.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Next-generation geothermal developers are staying the course but playing up the industry’s crossovers with oil and gas.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Jan. 2026
En route to his Week 10 assignment in Tampa in 2001, Fox’s lead NFL analyst may have been preaching to the choir—the reporter who took down those words was with the Chicago Tribune—but the big fella seated at the front of the Madden Cruiser wasn’t just playing up the hype man role.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Even as wedding registries shift and honeymoon funds replace fine china, antique case pieces and modern iterations of china cabinets are on the rise again—dovetailing with modern maximalism’s emphasis on playing up your home’s personality and the design world’s recent sweet spot for nostalgia.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
And Fosse emphasized Snider’s Fosse-like qualities, playing up Snider’s creative side.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Nails will be modern and cool, playing up your aesthetic without overpowering it.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Williams said the challenging part of the series was playing up the rivalry between his character and his co-star and onscreen love interest, Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for playing up
Verb
-
Wall Street analysts as a whole generally stood by their bullish stances on Robinhood, instead highlighting the company’s potential to expand future revenue.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The company also reported a record order backlog of $51 billion, up about 70% from a year earlier, highlighting strong demand visibility entering 2026.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Photographer Alina Vlady echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that a phone-free ceremony protects the couple’s experience.—
Nikita Khanna,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Trump in his remarks boasted of returning religion back to the center of American politics and culture, emphasizing efforts to support prayer in school, policies targeting transgender people and the creation of a White House faith office, among other actions.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Roy has countered by stressing his conservative record and independence, saying the job is about enforcing the law and defending Texas – not personal fealty.—
Philip Jankowski,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Savannah Guthrie opened the family’s plea by thanking supporters for their prayers before describing her mother as the heart of their family and making a direct appeal for contact, stressing Nancy Guthrie’s fragile health and urgent need for medication.—
Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz , Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The digital video poster went live in November, featuring Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi’s character Dek holding aloft a smaller, human figure, which had been severed in two.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Jim Varsallone writes a high school sports column twice a week, featuring top performers in all varsity sports (boys and girls) in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.—
Miami Herald Staff Reports,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Playing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/playing%20up. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
