play at

Idioms

Do or take part in half-heartedly, as in She was just playing at keeping house, letting the others do all the work. [Mid-1800s]

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.

China's Li Haotong feared he would not be able to play at Augusta National on Friday after spending the morning "living in the toilet" because of illness.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

“It takes awareness to play at a decent pace,” says Joe Falardeau, head golf professional at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, which this year hosts the 46th U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Looking at AAL’s monthly chart one can see how round number theory has come into play at the $10 figure:

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Norco will play at Mater Dei at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Was he rehearsing the role he meant to play at that night’s entertainment?

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023