underline

[ verb uhn-der-lahyn, uhn-der-lahyn; noun uhn-der-lahyn ]

/ verb ˈʌn dərˌlaɪn, ˌʌn dərˈlaɪn; noun ˈʌn dərˌlaɪn /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR underline ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), un·der·lined, un·der·lin·ing.

to mark with a line or lines underneath; underscore.

to indicate the importance of; emphasize, as by stressing or italicizing.

noun

Printing. a caption under an illustration.

a line drawn under something; an underscore.

Words nearby underline

underlayer, underlayment, underleaf, underlet, underlie, underline, underlinen, underling, underlit, underlying, undermanned

Origin of underline

First recorded in 1715–25; under- + line¹

OTHER WORDS FROM underline

un·der·lin·ing, un·der·lin·e·a·tion

[uhn-der-lin-ee-ey-shuh n] /ˌʌn dərˌlɪn iˈeɪ ʃən/, nounun·der·lin·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for underline

Because, rather than underline an emotion I have readily available, it reminds me of a world I passed by without noticing.
Boys Don’t Cry: In Praise of Sentiment|Andrew Sean Greer|June 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
To underline the point, Noah Claypole “announced his intention of coming to see him hung.”
What’s in a Name? Writers and Their Anthroponymy|Anthony Paletta|February 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He also came out strongly in favor of stem cell research, again using a personal family story to underline his commitment.
Romney’s Weird Abortion Gamble|Michelle Goldberg|June 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
That omission would seem very promising, save that department officials were reluctant to underline its importance.
Give the Libya Cease-Fire Plan a Chance|Leslie H. Gelb|April 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Often in high-level diplomacy, key points made in private are restated publicly to underline their seriousness.
Obama's New Buddies|Leslie H. Gelb|May 8, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Underline on title page the first letter of words which must be lettered on back.
Library Bookbinding|Arthur Low Bailey
This detail is important, and we regard it as useful to develop it at length; we should almost say, to underline it.
Les Misrables|Victor Hugo
Again, I want to underline that all this is history for me, you see.
Warren Commission (9 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
But it had been a close call, he did not need Tau's explanation to underline that.
Plague Ship|Andre Norton
The following additional changes have been made and can be identified in the body of the text by a grey dotted underline.
A Wife's Duty|Amelia Alderson Opie

British Dictionary definitions for underline

underline

verb (ˌʌndəˈlaɪn) (tr)

to put a line under

to state forcibly; emphasize or reinforce

noun (ˈʌndəˌlaɪn)

a line underneath, esp under written matter

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

underline

verb (used with object), un·der·lined, un·der·lin·ing.

noun

Words related to underline

Words nearby underline

Origin of underline

OTHER WORDS FROM underline

Examples from the Web for underline

British Dictionary definitions for underline

verb (ˌʌndəˈlaɪn) (tr)

noun (ˈʌndəˌlaɪn)