emphasize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
emphasizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
emphasized,
past participle, past
-
emphasizing
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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hyperemphasizeverb (used with object)
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misemphasizeverb (used with object)
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reemphasizeverb (used with object)
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superemphasizeverb (used with object)
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unemphasizingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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emphasizesimple
-
emphasizessimple
-
have emphasizedperfect
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has emphasizedperfect
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am emphasizingprogressive
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are emphasizingprogressive
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is emphasizingprogressive
-
have been emphasizingperfect progressive
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has been emphasizingperfect progressive
Past
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emphasizedsimple
-
had emphasizedperfect
-
was emphasizingprogressive
-
were emphasizingprogressive
-
had been emphasizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of emphasize
First recorded in 1820–30; emphas(is) + -ize
Explanation
To emphasize is to make something important, or stress it, like when you were little and your parents would always emphasize the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street. They told you again and again and again. And again. The verb emphasize works when you really want to stress a point or give extra weight to an issue. Emphasize comes from words that mean “significance” and “to present or show.” A player who finally makes the varsity team might emphasize this achievement by always wearing his practice jersey — even off the field, or you might emphasize the importance of being on time by locking the door on latecomers.
Vocabulary lists containing emphasize
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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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:
However, researchers emphasize that the study identified a connection between physical activity and slower symptom progression.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026
However, the researchers emphasize that their findings should not be interpreted as evidence that Chornobyl's radioactive contamination is becoming harmless.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026
Although the trial focused specifically on fish oil supplements, the researchers emphasize that protecting brain health requires a much broader approach.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026
Any moment can change the whole way you look at somebody, so it’s very delicate how you choose, because you can emphasize the wrong thing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
But I emphasize the little because since I was in fifth grade and he was in fourth, he’s been taller than me.
From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone
Ms. Acton emphasizes healthcare costs, school funding, rising electric bills and labor unions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Instead of concentrating primarily on collecting detailed memories, it increasingly emphasizes understanding relationships, identifying underlying meaning, and applying previously acquired knowledge.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026
Although both involve changes in memory, Fernandez emphasizes that Alzheimer's should not be understood as ordinary aging taken to an extreme.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026
He emphasizes that his coaching staff, which is also deeply rooted in the community, understands the realities of their players’ lives.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026
Her mother emphasizes that the United States is a cold place, where neighbors barely know one another.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
But in comments to MarketWatch, a State Department spokesperson emphasized that the ordered departures are only for non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families in Saudi Arabia.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
State officials emphasized that California’s economy has continued to grow even as the state has slashed emissions, with gross domestic product up 40% since the passage of AB 32.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
As Joyce Vance, former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, emphasized, “this is the time to vote early.”
From Slate ● Oct. 22, 2026
Sciamanna emphasized that these simple physical tests can reveal important information about a person's future health and independence.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026
I emphasized the latter with my parents, and they agreed to cover the costs for the program.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
She encourages members of her laboratory to be "calculated risk-takers," emphasizing that meaningful discoveries often require scientists to investigate possibilities that may initially seem unlikely.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
The renovation brought a contemporary aesthetic to the home, emphasizing natural light, open living spaces, and a seamless connection to the surrounding greenery.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
At the same time, some academics are emphasizing the need for students to hone AI skills to improve efficiency, deepen expertise, and meet the demands of a modern workforce.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
On Tuesday, Rubio sought to smooth over such difficulties, stressing that Washington wouldn’t expand its military activities in Iceland without the country’s cooperation and emphasizing U.S. respect for its sovereignty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Similarly, the holistic educator places music and the arts in a central position in a child’s education, emphasizing the artistic and aesthetic experiences that only the arts can bring.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
