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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of play up
The 10-piece fall line plays up plenty of daytime looks but there are also versatile styles that can be dressed up for evening outings.
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Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 24 Oct. 2024
In 2017, Payne played up the story of his Combs encounter for laughs in an interview with British talk show host Graham Norton.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2024
The pop-up itself will play up some of the jokes in the show - like the sprinklers on the ceiling that are supposed to be filled with blood.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
After that opener, the album is a litany of scenarios that play up guilt, betrayal, anxiety, resilience, and everything else that reduces interpersonal workings into a high-stakes chess match.
—Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play up 
Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 24 Oct. 2024
In 2017, Payne played up the story of his Combs encounter for laughs in an interview with British talk show host Graham Norton.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2024
The pop-up itself will play up some of the jokes in the show - like the sprinklers on the ceiling that are supposed to be filled with blood.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
After that opener, the album is a litany of scenarios that play up guilt, betrayal, anxiety, resilience, and everything else that reduces interpersonal workings into a high-stakes chess match.
—Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
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With the world watching, there is a collective aspiration that the international event will highlight the critical need for sustainable practices and mobilize concrete actions to safeguard our planet for generations to come.Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 27 Nov. 2024
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Three weeks later in Tampa Bay, another 80-yarder highlighted his 169-yard outburst.Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Collison also emphasized that areas with deteriorating or no sidewalks, commonly in low-income neighborhoods, shouldn’t be left out of redevelopment.Daryl Perry, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
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Holistic Employee Well-Being Many organizations emphasize the importance of work-life balance, mental health support and a positive work environment, but these initiatives frequently fall short.Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Three more benchmarks stress the CPU, using all available cores and threads to rate a PC's suitability for processor-intensive workloads.PCMAG, PCMAG, 16 Nov. 2024
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Many turn to their devices when bored or stressed, much like an adult pacifier.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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For that reason, the store scheduled a free discussion last night featuring a panel set to include Ra Avis, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, Luis Garcia, Ahmanise Sanati, and Christopher Soto.Erik Pedersen, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
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Among the brands featured will be CLAM, Big Fish Encounters, ESKIMO, Hardwater Life, and One Last Cast.Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near play up
Cite this Entry
“Play up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20up. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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