play down

verb

played down; playing down; plays down
Synonyms of play downnext

transitive verb

: to attach little importance to : minimize
He humbly played down his role in the research.

Synonyms of play down

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Examples of play down in a Sentence

out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Going into the summer, recruiting a left-back was on the agenda, though Newcastle feel Dedic and Livramento’s ability to play down both flanks provides enough cover. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 With the Kroenke deal, the Angels will plug into a much larger sports and media ecosystem that should benefit the team that has always played down the road in Orange County in the shadow of the region’s beloved Los Angeles Dodgers franchise. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 But Blanche played down concerns that the erosion of judicial trust could impede his efforts to advance his agenda. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 In response to the concerns, companies including Amazon and Microsoft have been playing down the issue, saying the data center water use can be done responsibly, or sourced from wastewater. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for play down

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of play down was in 1930

Rhymes for play down

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Browse Nearby Words

play doctor
play down
play ducks and drakes with
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Cite this Entry

“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20down. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

play down

verb
: to attach little importance to : minimize
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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