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# downplay

verb (downplay, downplays, downplayed, downplaying)

«downplay» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To downplay something means to make it seem smaller, less important or less serious than it really is. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/#m1)
2. Downplaying your own success means talking about it modestly, so you do not seem to show off. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/#m2)

### In the lessons

In lessons on hyperbole and understatement, downplaying is the opposite of exaggerating: saying «it's just a scratch» about a deep cut. In the news, leaders sometimes downplay a problem, and readers should ask whether it is worse than they say. In safety: never downplay an injury or a danger; tell an adult. Phrases: downplay the danger, downplay the problem, downplay your role.

### Examples

- He downplayed his injury, but his ankle was badly swollen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/#x1)
- «It was nothing,» she said, downplaying her prize. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/#x2)
- The company tried to downplay the size of the oil spill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/#x3)
- Don't downplay a bad headache; tell the nurse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/#x4)
- The team captain downplayed her part in the win. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/#x5)
- Understatement is a way of downplaying something on purpose for effect. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/#x6)
- The mayor downplayed the flood risk, and many people were not ready. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: downplayed, downplaying. One word, no hyphen. Opposite: exaggerate, overstate, play up. Downplaying can be modest and kind (about your own success) or dishonest (hiding how bad a danger is). Similar: play down («play down the problem»).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «downplay» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downplay/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«downplay» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/downplay.html) on Mova free.