toy with

phrasal verb

toyed with; toying with; toys with

: to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously

I toyed with the idea of moving to France but ended up staying here.

: to move or touch (something) with one's fingers often without thinking

She toyed with her hair while she talked on the phone.

: to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way

Do you really love me, or are you just toying with me?

Don't toy with my emotions.

Examples of toy with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Hernández Alonso has been toying with the idea of getting the business on social media, but that’s up to his grandkids. —

Mark Stevenson, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2024 And toys with nicks, dents, and signs of wear and tear should be priced under $10. —

Nafeesah Allen, Parents, 16 May 2024 Large companies are toying with dozens of projects that would infuse generative AI into their business, aiming to transform nearly every job function. —

John Kell, Fortune, 15 May 2024 Meta has been toying with the idea of developing new wearable devices, including earbuds enhanced with artificial intelligence and mini cameras. —

Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 May 2024 Also, sensory play can keep them engaged for a long time and is really important at this age, so be on the hunt for toys with different textures and shapes that are safe for babies to touch and chew (since everything goes into their mouth). —

Maya Polton, Parents, 11 May 2024 In a complete reversal of fortune, the company has lost well over 99% of its value—its stock is currently worth about $35 million— amid mounting financial woes and is now toying with bankruptcy. —

Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 10 May 2024 Groff and her husband, Clay Kallman, had toyed with the idea of opening a bookstore in Gainesville for more than a decade, but the timing never felt right. —

Alexandra Alter, New York Times, 10 May 2024 Scottie Scheffler, who seemingly has toyed with the competition on the PGA Tour this season on route to the world’s No. 1 ranking, won’t be in Charlotte. —

Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 9 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toy with.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.