play to
phrasal verb
played to; playing to; plays to
1
: to behave or perform in a particular way for (someone or something) in order to get approval or attention
He didn't mean what he was saying. He was just playing to the crowd.
He loves publicity and plays to the cameras every chance he gets.
2
: to make use of (something)
a film that plays to stereotypes of housewives
In his latest album, he once again plays to his strengths as a classical musician.
Examples of play to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many Republicans anticipate that Hudson might make a play to be chair of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee if Republicans expand their majority.
—
Emily Brooks, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
The earlier release plays to our collective nostalgia and is backed by data showing that limited-edition seasonal offerings drive foot traffic and online engagement.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Rich on crime thrillers, this year’s Spanish slate also plays to two of Spain’s strengths, the subject of Spanish Screenings showcases, which luckily enough are also proved to be of general market demand: animation and genre/fantasy.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
The mother-son duo even toured a school in New York City this past week, which Klum says plays to the teenager's artistic interests.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play to 
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.
Emily Brooks, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
The earlier release plays to our collective nostalgia and is backed by data showing that limited-edition seasonal offerings drive foot traffic and online engagement.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Rich on crime thrillers, this year’s Spanish slate also plays to two of Spain’s strengths, the subject of Spanish Screenings showcases, which luckily enough are also proved to be of general market demand: animation and genre/fantasy.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
The mother-son duo even toured a school in New York City this past week, which Klum says plays to the teenager's artistic interests.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play to
Dictionary Entries Near play to
Cite this Entry
“Play to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20to. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share