English edit

Etymology edit

Synthetic form of the phrase play down. By surface analysis, down- +‎ play.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Verb edit

downplay (third-person singular simple present downplays, present participle downplaying, simple past and past participle downplayed)

  1. (transitive) To de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential.
    He would sometimes downplay his Princeton education by saying simply that he went to school in New Jersey.

Usage notes edit

  • The synonymous alternative form play down is slightly more formal, or slightly less informal.

Synonyms edit

Translations edit

Anagrams edit