underscore
Americanverb (used with object)
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underscores,
present (3rd person singular)
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underscored,
past participle, past
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underscoring
present participle
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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
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underscores
plural
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a line drawn beneath something written or printed.
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music for a film soundtrack; background for a film or stage production.
verb
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to draw or score a line or mark under
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to stress or reinforce
noun
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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underscoresimple
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underscoressimple
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have underscoredperfect
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has underscoredperfect
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am underscoringprogressive
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are underscoringprogressive
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is underscoringprogressive
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have been underscoringperfect progressive
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has been underscoringperfect progressive
Past
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underscoredsimple
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had underscoredperfect
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was underscoringprogressive
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were underscoringprogressive
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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
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The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 2
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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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:
While most of the nation’s 64 million Medicare recipients will have plenty of options, some changes underscore the importance of shopping during open enrollment.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Labor advocates who have studied pesticide regulation say the oversight gaps and failures to impose stiffer fines underscore the need for more vigilant enforcement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
The comments, which came during a rare White House Rose Garden appearance by an attorney general, underscore how closely Blanche has aligned himself with the president.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
The findings also underscore the risks of assigning identities to extinct animals primarily from their physical appearance.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026
I feel like I'm supposed to make some comment to underscore the ridiculousness of it all, but honestly?
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
“Pullbacks are the admission price for participating in longer-term market appreciation. This underscores the importance of staying aligned with the primary trend rather than short-term turbulence,” he says.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
It underscores the dangers of mob mentality and the manosphere, while also emphasizing that despite all of the progress LGBTQ+ people have made, they are still in serious peril.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
"This scientific breakthrough underscores the power of research to redefine what we thought was possible and advance new approaches to cancer treatment," said Sreekala Bajwa, dean of the agricultural college.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 25, 2026
The deal underscores the Qatar Investment Authority’s deepening ties with Wall Street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
Roman's observation underscores how difficult it is for those of us preoccupied with the humdrum concerns of adulthood to recall how forcefully we were once buffeted by the passions and longings of youth.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Still, a rocky first day of trading underscored the market’s recent unease.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Mr. Gates underscored this in the Klein interview: “There’s never been a product that’s less understood in terms of what its capabilities are than AI.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
More recent cases have underscored just how complicated the situation can become.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
Ahead of the meeting, rhetoric from Washington and Beijing has underscored only deepening acrimony and distrust over their rush to dominate the technological frontier.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
But I can hear everything: the defeated whimpers of Kelton’s parents, underscored by dozens of scurrying feet that squeak, click, and scuff against the hardwood floor.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
German factory orders fell faster than expected in August, official data showed Tuesday, underscoring the fragility of a recovery in Europe's biggest economy.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
Google on Tuesday struck a new long-term deal with Constellation Energy, underscoring that obtaining enough power remains a critical issue for major artificial-intelligence players.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
The review's authors raised concerns about possible metabolic effects, underscoring that questions about appetite and glucose regulation are distinct from the original claim about DNA damage.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
But figuring out who gets what has become a complicated legal battle, underscoring a harsh reality: Even when stolen money is found, getting it back can be another ordeal entirely.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
But we were reaffirming and underscoring those original concerns, many of which had gone by the wayside.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
