at play

phrase

1
: in the act of playing
the sounds of children at play
2
: being something that helps produce or influence a result
Several issues are at play in determining the price of gasoline.

Examples of at play in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There’s also a twitchy paranoia at play, since Ethan and Ivy, as outsiders, inevitably spark a turf war as various warring factions try to figure out who is killing their men. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026 There’s some good old-fashioned social awkwardness at play too. — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 The institute is already looking at why girls ages 8 to 18 either drop out or stay in sports, and what factors are at play in those decisions. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 The United States’ political divisions are at play, as well, says Abigail Saguy, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. — Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for at play

Rhymes for at play

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Browse Nearby Words

at peace
at play
at present
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Cite this Entry

“At play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20play. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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