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Which musical instruction tells a performer to give a note particular emphasis?

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emphasis

American  

[em-fuh-sis] / ˈɛm fə sɪs /

noun

• emphases
  plural

1. 

   special stress laid upon, or importance attached to, anything.

   The president's statement gave emphasis to the budgetary crisis.

2. something that is given great stress or importance.

   Morality was the emphasis of his speech.

3. Rhetoric.

   1. special and significant stress of voice laid on particular words or syllables.

   2. stress laid on particular words, by means of position, repetition, or other indication.

4. intensity or force of expression, action, etc..

   Determination lent emphasis to his proposals.

5. prominence, as of form or outline.

   The background detracts from the emphasis of the figure.

6. Electronics. preemphasis.

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emphasis British  

/ ˈɛmfəsɪs /

noun

1. special importance or significance

2. an object, idea, etc, that is given special importance or significance

3. stress made to fall on a particular syllable, word, or phrase in speaking

4. force or intensity of expression

   he spoke with special emphasis on the subject of civil rights

5. sharpness or clarity of form or outline

   the sunlight gave emphasis to the shape of the mountain

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• misemphasis
  noun
• reemphasis
  noun
• superemphasis
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• emphases
  plural

Etymology

Origin of emphasis

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin, from Greek émphasis “indication,” equivalent to em- em- ² + phásis phasis

Explanation

While the emphasis, or main focus, for walking a dog might be on "answering the call of nature," the emphasis for the dog might be on chasing squirrels. If you say emphasis a little louder or with extra oomph in your pronunciation, you are putting emphasis on the word. This emphasis makes it clear that special attention, or emphasis, should be given to the word. Now, having repeated emphasis so many times, the "s" sound really stands out, sort of like in the word "stress." When you stress a point, you put emphasis on something — it is the main thing, the emphasis.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emphasis emphases

It lays out ways schools can adapt, like project-based learning and a greater emphasis on human-centered judgment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

It further argues that “Star Trek’s” emphasis on cultural and intellectual diversity remains especially relevant.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

That finding is especially relevant as governments and international organizations place increasing emphasis on forest restoration.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026

If humanity doesn’t exist on a binary, perhaps the emphasis shouldn’t always be on trying to see eye to eye; otherwise, no one can take a clear look at what’s happening in the periphery.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

“Looks like the away team really puts an emphasis on bulking up.”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

The show’s photos, predominantly in black and white, document these dramatic emphases as revealed by the stances and gestures of Graham and her dedicated group of women.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

The difference was not just one of opposing political ideologies but of vastly different cultural and human emphases.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2024

Where Hearts had made the right choices in key moments, Celtic too often took the wrong option with passes, crosses and emphases.

From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2023

There were emphases on ballhandling, shooting from midrange, being aggressive, driving to the basket and finishing around the rim.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 12, 2023

Its emphases vary according to my own indifferences and ignorance as well as according to my own sympathies and knowledge.

From Guide to Life and Literature of the Southwest, with a Few Observations by J. Frank (James Frank) Dobie

Related Words

• attention
• insistence
• intensity
• priority
• significance
• strength
• stress
• weight