downplay
|down-play|
B2
/ˌdaʊnˈpleɪ/
reduce importance
Etymology
Etymology Information
'downplay' originates from the combination of 'down' and 'play,' where 'down' meant 'reduce' and 'play' meant 'act or perform.'
Historical Evolution
'downplay' evolved from the combination of 'down' and 'play' in modern English, maintaining its meaning of reducing the significance of something.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to act in a reduced manner,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'making something seem less important.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to make something appear less important or less significant than it really is.
The company tried to downplay the impact of the data breach.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:40