at play
idiom
1
: in the act of playing
the sounds of children at play
2
: being something that helps produce or influence a result
Several issues are at play in determining the price of gasoline.
Examples of at play in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Choosing the right treatment will depend on the cause of the iron deficiency, and whether there are underlying illnesses at play, says Cunningham.
—
Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
Any person with even a modicum of self-awareness or shame would recognize the dynamics at play and try to respect the delicate emotions of everyone else in the car.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024
Zoom in: There's a trifecta at play to bolster the conspiracy theories about the drones, said Joanne Miller, a professor of political science and international relations at the University of Delaware.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024
The team believes that the most likely scenario at play here is that black holes go through short bursts of ultra-fast growth and then long periods of dormancy.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2024
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Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
Any person with even a modicum of self-awareness or shame would recognize the dynamics at play and try to respect the delicate emotions of everyone else in the car.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024
Zoom in: There's a trifecta at play to bolster the conspiracy theories about the drones, said Joanne Miller, a professor of political science and international relations at the University of Delaware.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024
The team believes that the most likely scenario at play here is that black holes go through short bursts of ultra-fast growth and then long periods of dormancy.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for at play
Dictionary Entries Near at play
Cite this Entry
“At play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20play. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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