toy with
phrasal verb
toyed with; toying with; toys with
1
: to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously
I toyed with the idea of moving to France but ended up staying here.
2
: to move or touch (something) with one's fingers often without thinking
She toyed with her hair while she talked on the phone.
3
: to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way
Do you really love me, or are you just toying with me?
Don't toy with my emotions.
Examples of toy with in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The brand had toyed with apparel since the ‘80s with small and sporadic capsule collections but the new apparel designs, hinging on Americana and the preppy look, seem to be accruing fans, too.
—
Martino Carrera, WWD, 14 Jan. 2025
However, not all dishes toyed with my emotions as intensely; some were more straightforwardly delicious.
—Megan Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2025
These measures could drive labor demand while also toying with inflation, complicating the Fed's present strategy.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
The industry, including Retroid, has been toying with Android as an option for some years, but in 2024, the capabilities of Android and the needs of gamers were met at an attractive price point that balanced cost and specs.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
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Martino Carrera, WWD, 14 Jan. 2025
However, not all dishes toyed with my emotions as intensely; some were more straightforwardly delicious.
—Megan Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2025
These measures could drive labor demand while also toying with inflation, complicating the Fed's present strategy.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
The industry, including Retroid, has been toying with Android as an option for some years, but in 2024, the capabilities of Android and the needs of gamers were met at an attractive price point that balanced cost and specs.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for toy with
Dictionary Entries Near toy with
Cite this Entry
“Toy with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toy%20with. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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