toy with
phrasal verb
toyed with; toying with; toys with
1
: to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously
I toyed with the idea of moving to France but ended up staying here.
2
: to move or touch (something) with one's fingers often without thinking
She toyed with her hair while she talked on the phone.
3
: to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way
Do you really love me, or are you just toying with me?
Don't toy with my emotions.
Examples of toy with in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That is until Jacob toys with the siren sound on his bull horn and all the cars speed away.
—
Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
Roku, which provides streaming services to my basement television, is toying with new ads.
—ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025
Nonetheless, Trump has repeatedly toyed with the idea, encouraged by MAGA allies, including Steve Bannon, who have suggested Trump could bypass the Constitution.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
In recent years, Universal had toyed with bringing Bourne back, with Conclave director Edward Berger hired in late 2023 to develop a new take.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toy with
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Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
Roku, which provides streaming services to my basement television, is toying with new ads.
—ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025
Nonetheless, Trump has repeatedly toyed with the idea, encouraged by MAGA allies, including Steve Bannon, who have suggested Trump could bypass the Constitution.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
In recent years, Universal had toyed with bringing Bourne back, with Conclave director Edward Berger hired in late 2023 to develop a new take.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toy with
Cite this Entry
“Toy with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toy%20with. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
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