Underplay

Pronunciation: /ˌʌndərˈpleɪ/

Definitions of underplay

verb to present or perform (something) in a restrained or subtle way, often to downplay its significance or importance

Example Sentences

A1 She underplays her achievements because she is shy.

A2 He tends to underplay his skills in front of others.

B1 The politician tried to underplay the significance of the recent scandal.

B2 The actor underplayed the emotional scene, making it more powerful.

C1 The CEO underplays her role in the company's success, giving credit to her team instead.

C2 The artist intentionally underplayed the use of color in his masterpiece, creating a subtle and impactful composition.

Examples of underplay in a Sentence

formal The actor decided to underplay his role in the play to convey a sense of subtlety.

informal She tends to underplay her achievements, but we all know how talented she is.

slang Don't underplay your skills - you're actually really good at it!

figurative His humble demeanor underplays the fact that he is actually a successful entrepreneur.

Grammatical Forms of underplay

• past tense: underplayed
• plural: underplays
• comparative: more underplayed
• superlative: most underplayed
• present tense: underplay
• future tense: will underplay
• perfect tense: have underplayed
• continuous tense: is underplaying
• singular: underplay
• positive degree: underplay
• infinitive: to underplay
• gerund: underplaying
• participle: underplayed

Origin and Evolution of underplay

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'underplay' originated from the prefix 'under-' meaning beneath or less than and the word 'play' meaning performance or portrayal.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in the context of theatrical performances to describe a subtle or restrained acting style, 'underplay' has evolved to also mean downplaying or minimizing the importance or significance of something in various contexts.