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
Prime Focus Group, the global media services powerhouse, is making a major play to transform Mumbai‘s entertainment landscape with a planned INR30 billion (approximately $400 million) investment in collaboration with the Maharashtra government.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 May 2025
His role plays to his strengths and doesn’t put him in uncomfortable situations.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Listen to this article DETROIT — Five games into their first-round playoff series, the Knicks still haven’t played to their full potential.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025
Whether through additional acquisitions, deeper ecosystem investments, or policy partnerships, Ripple is playing the long game—and playing to win.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for play to
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Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 May 2025
His role plays to his strengths and doesn’t put him in uncomfortable situations.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Listen to this article DETROIT — Five games into their first-round playoff series, the Knicks still haven’t played to their full potential.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025
Whether through additional acquisitions, deeper ecosystem investments, or policy partnerships, Ripple is playing the long game—and playing to win.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
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. 2025.
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