underscore

[ verb uhn-der-skawr, -skohr, uhn-der-skawr, -skohr; noun uhn-der-skawr, -skohr ]

/ verb ˈʌn dərˌskɔr, -ˌskoʊr, ˌʌn dərˈskɔr, -ˈskoʊr; noun ˈʌn dərˌskɔr, -ˌskoʊr /

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See synonyms for: underscore / underscored / underscores on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), un·der·scored, un·der·scor·ing.

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.

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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

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Origin of underscore

First recorded in 1765–75; under- + score

How to use underscore in a sentence

Marrying yourself merely underscores selfishness and self-interest, rather than enabling you to live singly in the best way.
Why Singles Should Say ‘I Don’t’ to The Self-Marriage Movement|Tim Teeman|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The attack on a BBC TV crew underscores the threat that all journalists face.
Violent Assaults on Reporters in Russia Go Unpunished|Anna Nemtsova|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But that only underscores the injustice of the sentence here.
House Arrest for Marital Rape, Are you Kidding?!|Sally Kohn|May 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This point underscores the extent to which 2016 hovers over everything discussed in this article.
Here’s What Happens When the GOP Takes Over the Senate|Michael Tomasky|April 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Tocqueville underscores: “The few opulent citizens of a democracy constitute no exception to this rule.”
What’s At Stake In The Tocqueville/Piketty Debate|James Poulos|April 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In edition 11, underscores are used to denote words and phrases italicized for emphasis.
This Side of Paradise|F. Scott Fitzgerald
This latter theme, with the motive of Fate, underscores the earlier portions of the dialogue between Golaud and Mélisande.
Debussy's Pellas et Mlisande|Lawrence Gilman
When the editor underscores a word, the Chinese compositor charges $9 extra for italicizing it.
Remarks|Bill Nye
Continued underscores indicate intentional gaps in sentence.
The I.W.W.|Paul Frederick Brissenden
Sole in the violent welter of those sheets it had no underscores nor any exclamations.
This Freedom|A. S. M. Hutchinson

British Dictionary definitions for underscore

underscore

verb (ˌʌndəˈskɔː) (tr)

to draw or score a line or mark under

to stress or reinforce

noun (ˈʌndəˌskɔː)

a line drawn 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

underscore

Origin of underscore

Words related to underscore

How to use underscore in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for underscore