play with
Britishverb
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to consider without giving deep thought to or coming to a conclusion concerning
we're playing with the idea of emigrating
-
to behave carelessly with
to play with a girl's affections
-
to fiddle or mess about with
he's just playing with his food
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In family playrooms, the researchers watched young kids play with Lego sets, and came away with three conclusions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
These trends have replaced seasonal play with year-round commitments that are turning childhood fitness and recreation into a financial burden that is undermining the joy of sports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
But it all started from a young age where she would carry records in carrier bags to her aunt's house to play with her cousins.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Mexico swept group play with a perfect 3-0 record, though it continued its streak of failing to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
It was what she used to play with Daddy.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
