emphasize
Americanverb (used with object)
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
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emphasizessimple
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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
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have been emphasizingperfect progressive
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has been emphasizingperfect progressive
Past
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emphasizedsimple
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had emphasizedperfect
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was emphasizingprogressive
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were emphasizingprogressive
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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:
The hair and makeup teams emphasize Wilde’s resemblance to those old school maneaters while keeping her look cutting-edge.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
Although the multivitamin findings are encouraging, researchers emphasize that supplements should not be viewed as replacements for a balanced diet or regular physical activity.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
The brand went on the offensive, sending former president Greg Creed on a publicity tour to emphasize food safety—including recommending Taco Bell to his daughter and her college friends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Increasing social and political backlash to data-center development could be leading Big Tech companies “to start building sooner to emphasize job creation,” Nowak noted.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
“If you advance through the competition, you’ll be with him each of those times. That means you’ll be our eyes and ears in these rooms, and I can’t emphasize enough how vital that will be.”
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Throughout, Kurosawa emphasizes the castle’s impressive interiors, enhancing the sense that Murashige’s men are trapped, the greatest mystery being when Oda’s forces will finally breach Arioka’s defenses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
The document emphasizes marriage as a requirement for sex, and gives a nod to the “success sequence” of completing school, finding gainful employment, getting married, and then having children.
From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026
The Focus: Investors will scrutinize Gov. Kazuo Ueda’s postmeeting remarks for clues on the timing of the next rate increase, particularly how strongly he emphasizes the risk of inflation overshooting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The study also emphasizes the importance of the local volume element determined by the physical spacetime metric.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
Two cultures: one emphasizes the difference between Evidence-Indices and Evidence-Perspicuity; the other minimizes it.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Brown declined to comment when asked about the status of Mayor Karen Bass’ order to remove food waste and debris within 45 days, but emphasized that officials are moving quickly to hold Lineage Logistics responsible.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
“The government emphasized the importance of promoting more balanced trade relations,” Zhang noted.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The researchers emphasized that the concentrations of FA that produced an effect in vitro were higher than the blood levels usually reached through normal dietary intake.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
Addressing her target audience, she emphasized her role working with the Obama administration on the auto rescue and her support from the Congressional Black Caucus.
From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026
But the reactions to her plan have only emphasized in her own mind how much danger Enrique is in.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
When Stewart pressed her on the president’s fixation, Collins defended her record, emphasizing that she refuses to serve only one political audience.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
Voter registration and Get Out the Vote groups are also emphasizing the need for voters to bring sufficient ID to the polls.
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026
“They have exclusive to semi-exclusive access to 14 materials” used to supply medical-device manufacturers, he said, emphasizing UFP’s competitive advantage because of difficult barriers to entry for the industry.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
Painters also adopted European conventions emphasizing divine rule in imperial portraits, as in a posthumous one of Akbar with a halo and winged cherubs above him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
He slowed down, emphasizing each of the next words.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
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.
