Phrase guide

toy with

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To handle something in a careless or frivolous manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • You shouldn't toy with someone's feelings.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To play, especially with or as with a toy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

take into consideration, have in view

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He entertained the notion of moving to South America

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: entertain, think of, flirt with, think about

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: contemplate

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: leikkiä — handle carelessly
  • Greek: παίζω με (paízo me) — handle carelessly
  • Greek: σκέπτομαι να (sképtomai na) — handle carelessly
  • Russian: тереби́ть (terebítʹ) — handle carelessly
  • Catalan: joguinejar — play
  • Cornish: trufla — play
  • Finnish: leikkiä — play
  • Welsh: chwarae gyda — play