play to
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
The go-to-market strategy will play to the brand’s digital appeal.
—
James Manso, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
Sheth’s study participants, though, reported no conscious recollection of sounds and stories the team played to them.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 6 May 2026
When looking at the entire tournament, from first game played to last at a particular city, Miami also ranks first at 20%.
—Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
But this was bound to be a Game 1 short on strategy and precision, long on playing to one’s own strengths, and locking in on details for Game 2.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for play to
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James Manso, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
Sheth’s study participants, though, reported no conscious recollection of sounds and stories the team played to them.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 6 May 2026
When looking at the entire tournament, from first game played to last at a particular city, Miami also ranks first at 20%.
—Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
But this was bound to be a Game 1 short on strategy and precision, long on playing to one’s own strengths, and locking in on details for Game 2.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for play to
Cite this Entry
“Play to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20to. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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