underscore
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to mark with a line or lines underneath; underline, as for emphasis.
-
to stress; emphasize.
The recent tragedy underscores the danger of disregarding safety rules.
noun
-
a line drawn beneath something written or printed.
-
music for a film soundtrack; background for a film or stage production.
verb
-
to draw or score a line or mark under
-
to stress or reinforce
noun
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
underscoresimple
-
underscoressimple
-
have underscoredperfect
-
has underscoredperfect
-
am underscoringprogressive
-
are underscoringprogressive
-
is underscoringprogressive
-
have been underscoringperfect progressive
-
has been underscoringperfect progressive
Past
-
underscoredsimple
-
had underscoredperfect
-
was underscoringprogressive
-
were underscoringprogressive
-
had been underscoringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of underscore
Explanation
To underscore is to draw special attention to a fact, idea, or situation. When you're involved in a debate, it’s wise to underscore the points that best support your argument. Literally, underscore means “to underline,” or draw a line beneath a word to emphasize it. In common speech, to underscore something is to call attention to it. If a worker sustained an injury on the job, for instance, the event would underscore the need for workplace safety. Underscore is also used to mean "emphasize." During a job interview, you want to underscore any experience that relates to the job you are applying for.
Vocabulary lists containing underscore
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The New SAT: The Language of the Test
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The sea drone attacks underscore the growing importance of unmanned technologies that are being combat-tested by the U.S. for the first time in the Middle East.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
The findings underscore an ongoing challenge for modern agriculture: protecting crops from destructive pests without harming the beneficial insects that support food production.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
“Gauges of investor sentiment underscore that current capital market pricing already reflects significant economic optimism and further upside for stocks versus bonds,” he wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 3, 2026
To further underscore the consistent winning the Dodgers have achieved with him: The Dodgers had two 100-win campaigns in their first 58 seasons in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Every now and then Ted pops in to watch with me, pausing the video to underscore a particularly dramatic moment: “See how she’s working around the vase? That’s an accident waiting to happen. ”
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
His lack of polish in speeches underscores his authenticity, and he shines in more intimate settings with voters, and in interviews.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
The scene underscores Siebel Newsom’s predicament as her husband positions himself as Trump’s chief antagonist and prepares for a possible 2028 White House run.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
To win with 10 players in these surroundings, frantic to the point of hysteria as 11 agonising minutes were added on, only underscores just how good this was.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
A spokeswoman for the Trump Organization said, “the breadth and depth of this filing further underscores our commitment to transparency.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
His memory underscores some differences in how the children saw their parents, and the strife.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
The range of reactions underscored Graham’s unusual place in American politics.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
They found different methods consistently revealed an extremely large number of cryptic species which underscored how much biodiversity remained hidden.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
Huang has underscored in public comments that Nvidia welcomes customers buying a la carte.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
She also underscored the fact that the reports were filed before he was contact by the FPPC.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Before our shift the next day, the training officer underscored the seriousness of what had happened and said that the injured inmate was very likely to sue the Department.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
The core CPI moved up to a 2.9% rate in May, from 2.5% at the start of the year — underscoring the challenge for the Fed.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
Earlier, he said the United States had agreed to continue talks with Iran even as he declared a previous ceasefire effectively over, underscoring the volatile state of relations between Washington and Tehran.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
Heat waves are underscoring how global warming has become a here-and-now issue for economists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Bukayo Saka offered hope in his cameo, underscoring a dilemma for Tuchel around his wide men and the need for change.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
Neutron stars would not be detected until 1967 and hard evidence of black holes not found until the twenty-first century, underscoring Oppenheimer’s achievement and the tragedy of his curiously unfulfilled career.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
