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Synonyms

highlight

American  
[hahy-lahyt] / ˈhaɪˌlaɪt /

verb (used with object)

highlighted, highlighting
  1. to emphasize or make prominent.

    The lawsuit against the landlord highlighted the need for a stricter building code.

    Synonyms:
    feature, underline, accent, stress
  2. to mark with a felt-tip highlighter.

    I started highlighting the text (yellow for important ideas, blue for dates and facts), but I'm not sure it was productive in the long run.

  3. to create highlights in (a photograph or engraving).

  4. to dye (parts of the hair) lighter.

  5. to apply makeup to (the face) in places where light would naturally hit, to create a glowing effect.

    After blending the foundation, highlight the cheekbones.


noun

  1. Sometimes high light an important, conspicuous, memorable, or enjoyable event, scene, part, or the like: the highlight of the concert series.

    the highlight of his talk;

    the highlight of the concert series.

  2. the area of most intense light on a represented form, as in a painting or photograph.

  3. Usually highlights a section of hair that has been dyed lighter.

highlight British  
/ ˈhaɪˌlaɪt /

noun

  1. an area of the lightest tone in a painting, drawing, photograph, etc

  2. the most exciting or memorable part of an event or period of time

  3. (often plural) a bleached blond streak in the hair

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. painting drawing photog to mark (any brightly illuminated or prominent part of a form or figure) with light tone

  2. to bring notice or emphasis to

  3. to be the highlight of

  4. to produce blond streaks in (the hair) by bleaching

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does highlight mean? To highlight something is to emphasize it or make it more prominent, as in Last class, the biology teacher highlighted the material we would need to know for the test.To highlight also means to mark something on paper with a highlighter. A highlighter is a felt-tipped pen with a soft, translucent color used to mark words and images on a printed page. Many students and readers highlight passages in textbooks and other materials to help them remember the passages better.A highlight is the best or most prominent part of something. You can often watch the highlights of a sporting event or TV show online. Your study notes might be just the highlights of your teacher’s lectures, and if you keep a journal or diary, you might only record the highlights of your day.Example: I try to highlight the best members of a community in my stories.

Etymology

Origin of highlight

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; high + light 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The researchers also highlight a longer range payoff.

From Science Daily

Disney’s first-ever chief brand officer is spearheading a “Best Christmas Ever” campaign featuring an online video that’s been viewed more than 34 million times and an animated Times Square billboard highlighting fan-drawn characters.

From The Wall Street Journal

The later stages of the show highlight a few transitional designers whose work either shaped or anticipated the Midcentury Modernist movement that usurped Art Deco.

From The Wall Street Journal

The crash highlighted Turkey’s role as a power broker in Libya, an oil-rich country in north Africa that descended into political crisis and civil war after a 2011 rebellion overthrew former dictator Col.

From The Wall Street Journal

Let’s dive into the highlights of the individual years.

From Salon