italicize

American  

[ih-tal-uh-sahyz, ahy-tal-] / ɪˈtæl əˌsaɪz, aɪˈtæl- /

especially British, italicise

verb (used with object)

italicized, italicizing

1. to print in italic type.

2. to underscore with a single line, as in indicating italics.

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verb (used without object)

italicized, italicizing

1. to use italics.

italicize British  

/ ɪˈtælɪˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to print (textual matter) in italic type

2. (tr) to underline (letters, words, etc) with a single line to indicate italics

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Other Word Forms

• italicization
  noun
• unitalicized
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of italicize

First recorded in 1785–95; italic + -ize

Explanation

When you italicize your writing, you print or type in the slanted letters called "italics." You can italicize a word in a sentence when you want to emphasize it. People italicize for various reasons: they might italicize the title of a book, or a section of dialogue that's yelled by a character in a story. Print that you italicize usually slopes from left to right, and it resembles script or cursive writing. Italicize and italics come from the Latin word for "Italian," italicus. This print style was named in honor of the Italian printer credited as the first to use it.

Example Sentences

Notes allows you to bold and italicize, too, which I do every once in a while if I’m feeling wild.

From The Verge • Jan. 17, 2022

Occasionally, he had to push back against publishers who wanted to italicize or Anglicize Swahili and Arabic references and phrases in his books, he said.

From New York Times • Oct. 7, 2021

Rayne’s production does not italicize the issue, but the show is not indifferent, either.

From Washington Post • Sep. 28, 2017

But vandalism’s crude delinquency merely serves to italicize Prince’s theme.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2017

We italicize the word, for interference proves to be the keynote of Dr. Hodge's system.

From Darwiniana; Essays and Reviews Pertaining to Darwinism by Gray, Asa