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
Being deep-fried and accompanied by a black soy dipping sauce plays up the power of the vegetable's subtle herbal flavor.
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Meira Gebel, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
Seeking out where his wife has gone would play up the soap opera textures of the Peacock and Spy original that has been otherwise focused on James Bond-like spycraft.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Dec. 2024
The company has played up its efforts to design the e.MAS 7 for local tastes, claiming that R&D engineers spent over 700,000 man-hours developing the latest model, which then underwent 100,000 kilometers of testing across Malaysia’s terrain.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Asia, 20 Dec. 2024
The site promises to play up Bahamian culture alongside traditional offerings such as the two separate beaches, 40 cabanas, food and drink venues, seven pools with three swim-up bars.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play up 
Meira Gebel, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
Seeking out where his wife has gone would play up the soap opera textures of the Peacock and Spy original that has been otherwise focused on James Bond-like spycraft.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Dec. 2024
The company has played up its efforts to design the e.MAS 7 for local tastes, claiming that R&D engineers spent over 700,000 man-hours developing the latest model, which then underwent 100,000 kilometers of testing across Malaysia’s terrain.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Asia, 20 Dec. 2024
The site promises to play up Bahamian culture alongside traditional offerings such as the two separate beaches, 40 cabanas, food and drink venues, seven pools with three swim-up bars.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play up
Verb
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What to Know Speaking on Tuesday's episode of Cafe Insider, Bharara highlighted that Merchan's decision to schedule the January 10 sentencing followed Trump's own request to delay proceedings until after November's election.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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In whiskey-making, the nuances of blue corn are especially highlighted when paired with careful fermentation and aging, as the grain's unique properties evolve beautifully in the barrel, adding layers of depth and sophistication to the final spirit.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In his press conference after the meeting, Fed chairman Jay Powell emphasized that since September, data on both inflation and the growth of the economy have come in somewhat stronger than expected, indicating that less monetary ...Steven B. Kamin, National Review, 2 Jan. 2025
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In later years, Buzzati tended to emphasize the novel’s origins in his boring job on the night desk.Christopher Tayler, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Observers have largely brushed aside the idea that the U.S. could realistically acquire Greenland; Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stressed that Greenland is not for sale as the acquisition conversation continued to flow from the president-elect.Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
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According to The Los Angeles Times, officials stressed that there is no immediate danger to the Westwood campus but urged students to remain vigilant.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The photo shared from the vice president’s official social media accounts on Saturday featured the three Democrats the most prominently.Neil Vigdor, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2025
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The nose features fresh tropical fruits, creamy vanilla, and subtle coconut aromas.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
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 18 Jan. 2025.
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