underscore
Americanverb (used with object)
-
underscores,
present (3rd person singular)
-
underscored,
past participle, past
-
underscoring
present participle
-
to mark with a line or lines underneath; underline, as for emphasis.
-
to stress; emphasize.
The recent tragedy underscores the danger of disregarding safety rules.
noun
-
underscores
plural
-
a line drawn beneath something written or printed.
-
music for a film soundtrack; background for a film or stage production.
verb
-
to draw or score a line or mark under
-
to stress or reinforce
noun
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
underscoresimple
-
underscoressimple
-
have underscoredperfect
-
has underscoredperfect
-
am underscoringprogressive
-
are underscoringprogressive
-
is underscoringprogressive
-
have been underscoringperfect progressive
-
has been underscoringperfect progressive
Past
-
underscoredsimple
-
had underscoredperfect
-
was underscoringprogressive
-
were underscoringprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The New SAT: The Language of the Test
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
But the rare snippets of dialogue that underscore these ideas are cringemaking.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
These accounts underscore ongoing efforts to improve access for small and mid‑sized importers, pushing back on narratives that the process is purely skewed toward corporate giants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
It draws heavily on news reports and what has so far been released from the Epstein files, but does underscore numerous hurdles the investigation has faced.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
The varied reactions to recent earnings reports underscore the market’s broader indecision.
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
Ben Franklin’s autobiography was punched up after his death to underscore his rise from obscurity.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
A search for one man’s remains underscores the staggering humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where thousands of bodies are trapped beneath millions of tons of rubble.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
The closeness of the race only underscores one of El-Sayed’s challenges going ahead: reuniting a fractured party after a bitter primary campaign.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
"However, this case underscores the importance of vigilance, strong partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and the proactive steps taken to identify and investigate suspicious activity before it can escalate."
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
But Alphabet’s refusal to let a human override the car’s “mind of its own” underscores the AI industry’s arrogance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
In addition to the ready perspective it offers on relative risk, the safety index underscores the obvious fact that every activity carries some risk.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
My own visits to provincial cities and towns in recent years have underscored how some local Taliban officials try to find pragmatic solutions.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Those results have underscored the material's potential for next-generation semiconductor systems.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026
The new head coach underscored that it can be easy for impulse and emotion to take over, but uplifting one another and letting mistakes refine you rather than define you is integral to success.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
The hostility underscored a widening gulf between legacy networks and a growing ecosystem of independent digital outlets that many young Indians increasingly turn to for news.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
This underscored Bush’s esteem for the breadth of Lawrence’s scientific knowledge and his emollient managerial technique.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Last year, the rate jumped to 63.1%, underscoring the role of internships as test drives for real jobs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Messages arrived from around the world, underscoring an impact that extended far beyond Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Chinese companies are major players in the mining sector, underscoring Beijing's outsized economic influence in the country.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
Double sauce is not necessary, but I like a little indulgence underscoring the practicality of a packable meal.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
Neutron stars would not be detected until 1967 and hard evidence of black holes not found until the twenty-first century, underscoring Oppenheimer’s achievement and the tragedy of his curiously unfulfilled career.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
