underplay
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to act (a part) sketchily.
-
to act subtly and restrainedly.
-
to understate or de-emphasize; downplay.
The ambassador underplayed his role in the peace negotiations.
verb (used without object)
-
to leave out of one's acting all subtlety and enriching detail.
-
to achieve an effect in acting with a minimum of emphasis.
verb
-
to play (a role) with restraint or subtlety
-
to achieve (an effect) by deliberate lack of emphasis
-
(intr) cards to lead or follow suit with a lower card when holding a higher one
Etymology
Origin of underplay
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.
To say Kerr and his squad have taken a comprehensive approach to making history would be to underplay the level of detail involved in "winning our one per cents".
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
Some researchers say current guidelines underplay the risks of transmission, though most still expect the outbreak to be contained.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
By endeavoring to tell the entire history of art, as far as their collections allow, they sometimes underplay a concentration within their holdings that makes them distinctive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 17, 2026
Knapp, who lost her home and plans to rebuild, did not underplay the years of recovery ahead, but as we spoke, she dropped a few cubes of sugar into that bitter cup of coffee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2025
“In low-power distance index countries,” Hofstede wrote in his classic text Culture’s Consequences: power is something of which power holders are almost ashamed and they will try to underplay.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
