play with

verb

1. to consider without giving deep thought to or coming to a conclusion concerning

   we're playing with the idea of emigrating

2. to behave carelessly with

   to play with a girl's affections

3. to fiddle or mess about with

   he's just playing with his food

Example Sentences

Struggling to gain recognition, he returned to Jamaica in 1969 to play with local musicians.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He also began to play with Mr. Mazurek and guitarist Jeff Parker.

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Round-number theory is at play, with the $100 level providing strong price memory.

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The Rams need to play with blinders on.

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Still, Whitaker wasn’t hesitant to play with the trope of a rich L.A. kid benefiting from nepotism.

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Related Words

• dabble 
• mess