italicize

American  

[ih-tal-uh-sahyz, ahy-tal-] / ɪˈtæl əˌsaɪz, aɪˈtæl- /

especially British, italicise

verb (used with object)

italicized, italicizing

1. to print in italic type.

2. to underscore with a single line, as in indicating italics.

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verb (used without object)

italicized, italicizing

1. to use italics.

italicize British  

/ ɪˈtælɪˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to print (textual matter) in italic type

2. (tr) to underline (letters, words, etc) with a single line to indicate italics

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Other Word Forms

• italicization
  noun
• unitalicized
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of italicize

First recorded in 1785–95; italic + -ize

Explanation

When you italicize your writing, you print or type in the slanted letters called "italics." You can italicize a word in a sentence when you want to emphasize it. People italicize for various reasons: they might italicize the title of a book, or a section of dialogue that's yelled by a character in a story. Print that you italicize usually slopes from left to right, and it resembles script or cursive writing. Italicize and italics come from the Latin word for "Italian," italicus. This print style was named in honor of the Italian printer credited as the first to use it.

Example Sentences

She doesn’t italicize the Hindi, affirming the fluidity of language in conversation and thought.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2022

Notes allows you to bold and italicize, too, which I do every once in a while if I’m feeling wild.

From The Verge • Jan. 17, 2022

“They want you to italicize it or even put a glossary. And I think no, no, no, no.”

From New York Times • Oct. 7, 2021

Rayne’s production does not italicize the issue, but the show is not indifferent, either.

From Washington Post • Sep. 28, 2017

He kept in the offing, so that if she wanted him she could call him, but he thought it the politer politeness not to italicize his chivalry.

From The Cup of Fury A Novel of Cities and Shipyards by Raleigh, Henry