highlighting

American  

[hahy-lahy-ting] / ˈhaɪˌlaɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. a hair dyeing technique in which dye is applied to parts of the hair for a naturally lighter and contrasting appearance.

2. a makeup application style in which a cosmetic powder or cream is applied to the face in places where light would naturally hit, as the cheeks, forehead, chin, and center of the nose, to create a glowing effect.

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Etymology

Origin of highlighting

First recorded in 1955–60; highlight ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

I’m just highlighting her little “isms” with people, and I mean, you saw the show, I’m definitely not making fun of her!

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Palantir CEO Alex Karp touted the company’s “ staggering growth” despite “a hiring discipline that is too rare in the software industry today,” highlighting that it only has 70 salespeople.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

To drive home that point, Visa has been highlighting revenue it generates from what it calls value-added services, or VAS.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens will be meeting with a support service for people migrating to Scotland, as well as highlighting plans for free bus travel.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

I walk to the closest barrel next to an empty pod, its orange flashing button highlighting Fu, Jie Ru over and over.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera