play on
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.59 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To exploit (a potential weakness or vulnerability) by exacerbating.
verb
To exploit (a double meaning, similarity in sound, etc.) for humorous or creative effect.
verb
To frequently allude to or return to as a theme.
verb
To let the game continue after a foul has been committed, because the situation is advantageous to the team who would be awarded a foul.
Intransitive verb
verb
To cause (an opposing player) to be onside rather than offside due to one's position on the field of play.
Transitive verb
verb
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, on.
Example Sentences
- "to play on someone's fears"
- "This joke plays on the fact that 'thirsty' sounds similar to 'Thursday'."
- "to play on one's mind, or conscience"
- "The pamphlet plays on the idea that all social conflict is class-based."
- "The ref said that Smith was offside, but I think that Jones played him on."
- "I knew I was losing, but I played on anyways."