underline

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

verb (used with object)

, un·der·lined, un·der·lin·ing.

1. to mark with a line or lines underneath; underscore.
2. to indicate the importance of; emphasize, as by stressing or italicizing.

noun

1. Printing. a caption under an illustration.
2. a line drawn under something; an underscore.

underline

verb

1. to put a line under
2. to state forcibly; emphasize or reinforce

noun

1. a line underneath, esp under written matter

Other Words From

• under·lining un·der·lin·e·a·tion [uhn-der-lin-ee-, ey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• under·liner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underline¹

First recorded in 1715–25; under- + line ¹

Example Sentences

If you’re like me, when you’re finished reading a book it’s often filled with underlines, scribblings, circled portions and highlighted phrases.

From Voice of San Diego

Because, rather than underline an emotion I have readily available, it reminds me of a world I passed by without noticing.

From The Daily Beast

To underline the point, Noah Claypole “announced his intention of coming to see him hung.”

From The Daily Beast

Yet the recent protests underline growing unease with her administration at home.

From The Daily Beast

“Perhaps more than any other recipient, with Shirley I would underline the word life,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

He also came out strongly in favor of stem cell research, again using a personal family story to underline his commitment.

From The Daily Beast

Words marked with a dotted underline are changes made by the transcriber.

From Project Gutenberg

To guard against omission, the traveller should underline the names of the places to be visited before commencing the round.

From Project Gutenberg

The simplest way to mark is to underline the words or to make a stroke alongside the verse.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore I ask you to consider well and deeply the next sentence of this letter—which I will underline.

From Project Gutenberg

Words that were determined from context appear with a dotted underline.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accentuate
• highlight
• indicate
• point up
• stress
• underscore