underscore

American  

[uhn-der-skawr, -skohr, uhn-der-skawr, -skohr, uhn-der-skawr, -skohr] / ˈʌn dərˌskɔr, -ˌskoʊr, ˌʌn dərˈskɔr, -ˈskoʊr, ˈʌn dərˌskɔr, -ˌskoʊr /

verb (used with object)

underscored, underscoring

1. to mark with a line or lines underneath; underline, as for emphasis.

2. to stress; emphasize.

   The recent tragedy underscores the danger of disregarding safety rules.

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noun

1. a line drawn beneath something written or printed.

2. music for a film soundtrack; background for a film or stage production.

underscore British  

verb

1. to draw or score a line or mark under

2. to stress or reinforce

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noun

1. a line drawn under written matter

Etymology

Origin of underscore

First recorded in 1765–75; under- + score

Example Sentences

The repeat strikes underscore Iran's efforts to target specific US assets.

From BBC

Gold prices posted their largest weekly percentage drop in more than 14 years Friday, underscoring how shocks from the Iran conflict are unleasing havoc in markets, even for traditional safe-haven assets.

From MarketWatch

German auto industry exports to China plunged by a third last year as the country's manufacturers face fierce local competition, a study showed Friday, underscoring the sector's deepening crisis.

From Barron's

Micron’s high margin underscores the company’s ideal situation, with robust demand for memory components supporting the build out of generative AI.

From MarketWatch

Meanwhile, Li Auto, the first in the group to become profitable, recorded a slim profit amid slumping sales, underscoring how cutthroat China’s auto market has become as companies compete to introduce breakthrough technology.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accentuate
• highlight
• indicate
• mark
• stress