highlight

[hahy-lahyt]

verb (used with object)

highlighted, highlighting 

1. to emphasize or make prominent.

   The lawsuit against the landlord highlighted the need for a stricter building code.

   Synonyms: feature, underline, accent, stress

2. to mark with a felt-tip highlighter.

   I started highlighting the text (yellow for important ideas, blue for dates and facts), but I'm not sure it was productive in the long run.

3. to create highlights in (a photograph or engraving).

4. to dye (parts of the hair) lighter.

5. to apply makeup to (the face) in places where light would naturally hit, to create a glowing effect.

   After blending the foundation, highlight the cheekbones.

noun

1. Sometimes high light an important, conspicuous, memorable, or enjoyable event, scene, part, or the like: the highlight of the concert series.

   the highlight of his talk;

   the highlight of the concert series.

2. the area of most intense light on a represented form, as in a painting or photograph.

3. Usually highlights a section of hair that has been dyed lighter.

highlight

/ ˈhaɪˌlaɪt /

noun

1. an area of the lightest tone in a painting, drawing, photograph, etc

2. the most exciting or memorable part of an event or period of time

3. (often plural) a bleached blond streak in the hair

verb

1. painting drawing photog to mark (any brightly illuminated or prominent part of a form or figure) with light tone

2. to bring notice or emphasis to

3. to be the highlight of

4. to produce blond streaks in (the hair) by bleaching

Word History and Origins

Origin of highlight¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; high + light ¹

Example Sentences

She also highlights anticipated environmental benefits linked to a circular economy approach.

Read more on Science Daily

The next official employment report may highlight a new hit to the labor market from the shutdown, Barnes noted.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I think the reception from the fans and the artists I got to know from the Kobe mural project was very positive,” Asner, who also has an Instagram page highlighting Dodgers murals, said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It took an email from an intrigued listener to the Chipping Forecast golf podcast to highlight the curious case of the rise of Johnny Keefer.

Read more on BBC

On a recent visit to displacement camps in Sudan, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said the country faced enormous needs and highlighted the need to develop a stronger health system.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• accent 
• accentuate 
• emphasize 
• feature 
• play up 
• point out 
• stress 

When To Use

What does highlight mean?

To highlight something is to emphasize it or make it more prominent, as in Last class, the biology teacher highlighted the material we would need to know for the test.To highlight also means to mark something on paper with a highlighter. A highlighter is a felt-tipped pen with a soft, translucent color used to mark words and images on a printed page. Many students and readers highlight passages in textbooks and other materials to help them remember the passages better.A highlight is the best or most prominent part of something. You can often watch the highlights of a sporting event or TV show online. Your study notes might be just the highlights of your teacher’s lectures, and if you keep a journal or diary, you might only record the highlights of your day.Example: I try to highlight the best members of a community in my stories.