underscore
Americanverb (used with object)
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underscores,
present (3rd person singular)
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underscored,
past participle, past
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underscoring
present participle
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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
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underscores
plural
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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
-
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
-
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:
While most of the nation’s 64 million Medicare recipients will have plenty of options, some changes underscore the importance of shopping during open enrollment.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Still, his highs and lows underscore how precarious these ultracompetitive internship programs can be.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The researchers say these differences underscore the need to investigate cardiovascular prevention strategies that account for both sex and stage of life.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
Labor advocates who have studied pesticide regulation say the oversight gaps and failures to impose stiffer fines underscore the need for more vigilant enforcement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
He wanted to underscore the waste and immorality of the standard American diet.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
“Pullbacks are the admission price for participating in longer-term market appreciation. This underscores the importance of staying aligned with the primary trend rather than short-term turbulence,” he says.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
"This scientific breakthrough underscores the power of research to redefine what we thought was possible and advance new approaches to cancer treatment," said Sreekala Bajwa, dean of the agricultural college.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 25, 2026
The release of new wearables underscores how one of the world’s largest tech companies is barreling forward in the AI race even as tech workers and politicians call for the industry to slow down.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
It’s Morello half-speaking, half-singing against a gentle piano melody that emotionally underscores the song’s message of quiet defiance: “Maybe you can save me/Maybe you can’t/Maybe you can liberate me/Nah, I’ll take care of that.”
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026
Roman's observation underscores how difficult it is for those of us preoccupied with the humdrum concerns of adulthood to recall how forcefully we were once buffeted by the passions and longings of youth.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Army, that small discovery underscored the urgency of his efforts to supply troops with the books that meant so much to them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
And for the Eagles, their inability to close out the game underscored persistent issues on offense that threaten to derail their season.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Analyst Matthew Martin said ADP's data underscored "the strength of the labor market."
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
More recent cases have underscored just how complicated the situation can become.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
Each decisive battle in Europe and the Pacific further underscored the sharp decline of the remaining Axis Powers.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
And US grocery prices stood 2.2 percent higher than a year ago in August, underscoring households' compounding costs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
“These vary widely, underscoring the importance of understanding local laws if probate avoidance is a priority. Even a single missed step can inadvertently trigger probate.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 27, 2026
The review's authors raised concerns about possible metabolic effects, underscoring that questions about appetite and glucose regulation are distinct from the original claim about DNA damage.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
That’s a staggering plunge from its $1.2 billion valuation a decade ago, underscoring the steep challenges facing brick-and-mortar retail even as AI investment drives a local renaissance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 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.
