Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [doun-pley]
- /ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ/
- /ˌdaʊnˈpleɪ/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [doun-pley]
- /ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ/
Definitions of downplay word
- verb with object downplay to treat or speak of (something) so as to reduce emphasis on its importance, value, strength, etc.: The press has downplayed the president's role in the negotiations. 1
- noun downplay Make (something) appear less important than it really is. 1
- transitive verb downplay minimize importance of 1
- verb downplay If you downplay a fact or feature, you try to make people think that it is less important or serious than it really is. 0
- verb downplay to play down; make little of 0
- verb transitive downplay to play down; minimize 0
Information block about the term
Origin of downplay
First appearance:
before 1950 One of the 5% newest English words
1950-55; down1 + play, from verb phrase play down
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Downplay
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
downplay popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 74% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
downplay usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for downplay
verb downplay
- play down — a dramatic composition or piece; drama.
- lessen — to become less.
- soften — to make soft or softer.
- whitewash — a composition, as of lime and water or of whiting, size, and water, used for whitening walls, woodwork, etc.
- devalue — To devalue something means to cause it to be thought less impressive or less deserving of respect.
Antonyms for downplay
verb downplay
- highlight — to emphasize or make prominent.
Top questions with downplay
- what does downplay mean?
- what is downplay?
- what does it mean to downplay something?
- downplay the one who laughs last lyrics?
- downplay the one who laughs last?
- how to downplay a big nose?
- how to downplay broad shoulders?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with d
- Words starting with do
- Words starting with dow
- Words starting with down
- Words starting with downp
- Words starting with downpl
- Words starting with downpla
- Words starting with downplay