play to (third-person singular simple present plays to, present participle playing to, simple past and past participle played to)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play,‎ to.

   At the festival, the band played to 20,000 people.

2. To act in a way most suitable to; to act in a way that best brings out (a quality, condition, etc.).

   He played to his strengths tonight.

   The advertisement plays to people's fears about cancer.

3. To act in order to gain the attention or admiration of.

   to play to the crowd

   to play to the cameras