# downplay

/ˈdaʊnˌpɫeɪ/ (US) · /dˈaʊnpleɪ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/downplay
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to make something seem less important or serious than it is — often to avoid causing worry or alarm.

For teachers: to represent or describe something as less important or serious than it actually is. Transitive verb.

## Examples

- The manager tried to downplay the mistake during the meeting.
- During the press conference, the company spokesperson downplayed the safety concerns by emphasizing the product's benefits.
- In her testimony, the witness carefully downplayed the incident's severity, focusing instead on the positive outcomes that followed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.