emphasize

American  

[em-fuh-sahyz] / ˈɛm fəˌsaɪz /

especially British, emphasise

verb (used with object)

• emphasizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• emphasized,
  past participle,  past
• emphasizing
  present participle

1. to give emphasis to; lay stress upon; stress.

   to emphasize a point;

   to emphasize the eyes with mascara.

   Synonyms:

   highlight, accentuate, accent

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emphasize British  

/ ˈɛmfəˌsaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to give emphasis or prominence to; stress

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hyperemphasize
  verb (used with object)
• misemphasize
  verb (used with object)
• reemphasize
  verb (used with object)
• superemphasize
  verb (used with object)
• unemphasizing
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• emphasizing
  present
• emphasized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• emphasize
  simple
• emphasizes
  simple
• have emphasized
  perfect
• has emphasized
  perfect
• am emphasizing
  progressive
• are emphasizing
  progressive
• is emphasizing
  progressive
• have been emphasizing
  perfect progressive
• has been emphasizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• emphasized
  simple
• had emphasized
  perfect
• was emphasizing
  progressive
• were emphasizing
  progressive
• had been emphasizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will emphasize
  simple
• will have emphasized
  perfect
• will be emphasizing
  progressive
• will have been emphasizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of emphasize

First recorded in 1820–30; emphas(is) + -ize

Explanation

To emphasize is to make something important, or stress it, like when you were little and your parents would always emphasize the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street. They told you again and again and again. And again. The verb emphasize works when you really want to stress a point or give extra weight to an issue. Emphasize comes from words that mean “significance” and “to present or show.” A player who finally makes the varsity team might emphasize this achievement by always wearing his practice jersey — even off the field, or you might emphasize the importance of being on time by locking the door on latecomers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emphasize emphasizes emphasized emphasizing

“While some advisers emphasize this approach, it is not how many advisory relationships are structured today.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

But he’s just singing better than ever — the falsetto wouldn’t hide flaws, it would just emphasize them.

From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026

Then cinematographers Evan Draper and Jazleana Jones along with Ullom, who also edits, take a steadier hand with evocative montages that emphasize the passage of time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Meanwhile, their top executives are increasingly talking about AI in ways that emphasize potential broad-based economic opportunity rather than job displacement or other scary scenarios.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Except I’ll make the “D” capital, so you have to, like, emphasize the second syllable, you know?

From "The Misfits" by James Howe

“There isn’t any evidence that demonstrates this works,” Yasmin emphasizes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

A Mediterranean diet emphasizes plant-based foods such as vegetables, olive oil, and nuts, along with moderate amounts of fish and dairy.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026

Ramírez’s plots, as Mr. Warrick emphasizes, were too scattered and haphazard to force serious political change.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

But his performance still emphasizes full-bodied emoting as much as his dialogue delivery, if not more.

From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026

Cordelia and Grace graduate and go elsewhere; Cordelia, it’s rumored, to St. Sebastian’s, a private school for girls, Grace to a high school farther north which emphasizes math.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

They did, although they emphasized that the decision depends on more than contribution limits.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

The building, designed by Ruy Jervis d’Athouguia, Pedro Cid and Alberto Pessoa, emphasized the integration of art, architecture and nature.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

She also emphasized that AI should not replace human teachers.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026

They emphasized the first syllable: ROCKola, like “broccoli.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

If Nyame’s magnificent home displayed the sky god’s wealth and power, Anansi’s emphasized his cleverness.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

In his Jackson Hole address, Warsh was more explicit than expected, noting inflation was above the 2% target and emphasizing a focus on prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

He also monetized Apple’s installed base through services such as Apple Pay, Apple Music and other offerings while emphasizing user privacy.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

“Coordination, not subordination,” Sheinbaum said Friday, reiterating a motto emphasizing that Mexico will not relinquish its sovereignty in response to U.S. pressure.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Instead, genetic studies of archaeological remains from Europe and the Americas have uncovered evidence of multiple treponemal diseases in ancient populations, emphasizing how complex the evolutionary history of these pathogens may be.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

Icons—hearts, stars, thumbs-ups—cluster over various parts of the city, emphasizing areas where the most people have bookmarked favorite spots, shops, or meet-ups with friends.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Related Words

• accentuate
• affirm
• assert
• highlight
• indicate
• maintain
• point out
• reiterate
• repeat
• underline
• underscore