underscore
Americanverb (used with object)
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to mark with a line or lines underneath; underline, as for emphasis.
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to stress; emphasize.
The recent tragedy underscores the danger of disregarding safety rules.
noun
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a line drawn beneath something written or printed.
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music for a film soundtrack; background for a film or stage production.
verb
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to draw or score a line or mark under
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to stress or reinforce
noun
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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underscoresimple
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underscoressimple
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have underscoredperfect
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has underscoredperfect
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am underscoringprogressive
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are underscoringprogressive
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is underscoringprogressive
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have been underscoringperfect progressive
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has been underscoringperfect progressive
Past
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underscoredsimple
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had underscoredperfect
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was underscoringprogressive
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were underscoringprogressive
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had been underscoringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of underscore
Explanation
To underscore is to draw special attention to a fact, idea, or situation. When you're involved in a debate, it’s wise to underscore the points that best support your argument. Literally, underscore means “to underline,” or draw a line beneath a word to emphasize it. In common speech, to underscore something is to call attention to it. If a worker sustained an injury on the job, for instance, the event would underscore the need for workplace safety. Underscore is also used to mean "emphasize." During a job interview, you want to underscore any experience that relates to the job you are applying for.
Vocabulary lists containing underscore
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 2
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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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.
See Examples For:
“Discussions with our customers further underscore the growing importance of lower-carbon, domestically produced steel and aluminum products, positioning our operations with a sustainable long-term competitive advantage,” he added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
These trends underscore the importance of money managers having their own research capability.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
The findings underscore an ongoing challenge for modern agriculture: protecting crops from destructive pests without harming the beneficial insects that support food production.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
To further underscore the consistent winning the Dodgers have achieved with him: The Dodgers had two 100-win campaigns in their first 58 seasons in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Every now and then Ted pops in to watch with me, pausing the video to underscore a particularly dramatic moment: “See how she’s working around the vase? That’s an accident waiting to happen. ”
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
The report underscores how households are keeping the Canadian economy afloat, and helping drive a rebound that’s expected to show solid growth in the second quarter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
"It underscores Samsung's dominance of the foldable category and its determination to expand the market with a device for almost every type of user."
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
"Being impacted by such a rare, distant projectile really underscores how unlucky the dinosaurs were," says Dr. Claeys.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026
The hazy love melody “Tremenda,” for example, underscores an intense yearning for connection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
In that sense, the Terman study underscores the argument Annette Lareau makes, that what your parents do for a living, and the assumptions that accompany the class your parents belong to, matter.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
The risk of relying on one artery for so much trade was underscored after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when the bridge was temporarily closed and trucks idled in a miles-long traffic jam.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
"The two sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region, reducing the risk of miscalculation, and sustaining dialogue on matters of mutual concern," the statement read.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
The ongoing strikes have underscored the strategic importance of the Strait.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The range of reactions underscored Graham’s unusual place in American politics.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
America's nuclear gambit had kept Stalin in check, but the crisis in Berlin underscored the need to anticipate the USSR's next move.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Apple finally overthrew Nvidia to reclaim the title of the world’s largest company by market capitalization, underscoring the dramatic degree to which the iPhone maker’s stock is clobbering the broader technology universe.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
"This is really underscoring the importance of healthy fats in keeping metabolism intact and functional," said Oral.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
"Time series analysis highlights significant seasonal mortality patterns, underscoring the need for targeted interventions during high-risk periods like peak summer months; such as strategic water provisioning, supplemental feeding, and enhanced disease monitoring," it said.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
The shift made waves in Arab media, underscoring the South Carolina lawmaker’s outsize influence on U.S. foreign policy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
But we were reaffirming and underscoring those original concerns, many of which had gone by the wayside.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
