highlight

[hahy-lahyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR highlight ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), high·light·ed, high·light·ing.

to emphasize or make prominent.

to create highlights in (a photograph or engraving).

noun

Also high light. an important, conspicuous, memorable, or enjoyable event, scene, part, or the like: the highlight of his talk; the highlight of the concert series.

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

Origin of highlight

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; high + light¹

Related formshigh·light·er, noun

Synonyms for highlight

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1. stress, accent, underline, feature.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for highlight

climax, feature, focus, peak

Examples from the Web for highlight

Contemporary Examples of highlight

Their confrontation at dinner was, without a doubt, the highlight of the episode.
‘Downton Abbey’ Review: A Fire, Some Sex, and Sad, Sad Edith
Kevin Fallon
January 5, 2015
He is my favorite Woodstock artist, the highlight of the entire festival.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker
Ted Gioia
December 23, 2014
Art is something that has been a highlight at The Center since its first group show—“The Center Show”—in 1989.
The LGBT Center That Changed Our Lives
Justin Jones
December 22, 2014
It can be really good if somebody is an amazing talent right off the bat or it can highlight your flaws.
Inside ‘The Sex Factor’: Where 16 Men and Women Vie For Porn Immortality
Aurora Snow
November 22, 2014
The documents also highlight the apparent complicity by secular law enforcement in keeping some of these offenders out of jail.
How Sicko Priests Got Away With It
Barbie Latza Nadeau
November 16, 2014

Historical Examples of highlight

The newsroom posted this cartoon each Sunday and It was the highlight of the day.
The Biography of a Rabbit
Roy Benson
They were matters which the Chief Inspector did not highlight; evidently he did not regard them as of major importance.
Judgments of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand on Proceedings to Review Aspects of the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Mount Erebus Aircraft Disaster
Sir Owen Woodhouse, R. B. Cooke, Ivor L. M. Richardson, Duncan Wallace McMullin, and Sir Edward Somers
There has been a highlight added along the bottom of the gun just forward of the trigger guard and just below Oswald's left hand.
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)
The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
There is a highlight along the top of the rifle between Oswald's left hand and the point where the rifle passes his left shoulder.
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)
The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
On Shaneyfelt Exhibit No. 1, the highlight does not denote the top of the weapon.
Warren Commission (7 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)
The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

British Dictionary definitions for highlight

highlight

noun

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

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

(often plural) a bleached blond streak in the hair

verb (tr)

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

to bring notice or emphasis to

to be the highlight of

to produce blond streaks in (the hair) by bleaching

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for highlight

1650s, originally of paintings, "the brightest part of a subject," from high (adj.) + light (n.). The figurative sense of "outstanding feature or characteristic" is from 1855. The verb is from 1861. Hairdressing sense is 1941 (n.), 1942 (v.). Related: Highlighted; highlighting.