underscore
Americanverb (used with object)
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to mark with a line or lines underneath; underline, as for emphasis.
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to stress; emphasize.
The recent tragedy underscores the danger of disregarding safety rules.
noun
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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:
These trends underscore the importance of money managers having their own research capability.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
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
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
What activities could you do with them to underscore the idea of the soundscape?
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
"It underscores Samsung's dominance of the foldable category and its determination to expand the market with a device for almost every type of user."
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
"Being impacted by such a rare, distant projectile really underscores how unlucky the dinosaurs were," says Dr. Claeys.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026
Brown’s move to Meta underscores the increasing demand for top executives with experience developing computing infrastructure as AI use continues to skyrocket.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
“It underscores the financial pressures of many households,” Boyden said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 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
The risk of relying on one artery for so much trade was underscored after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when the bridge was temporarily closed and trucks idled in a miles-long traffic jam.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Even in an ever-changing wireless market, Osvaldik underscored that the company’s philosophy toward its capital-allocation framework — which the company noted in February involves a 2.5x leverage target — will remain consistent.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
"The two sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region, reducing the risk of miscalculation, and sustaining dialogue on matters of mutual concern," the statement read.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
The ongoing strikes have underscored the strategic importance of the Strait.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
It was an earsplitting, growling, grinding, screaming noise, shot through with a hoarse rackety-rackety sound and underscored with a deep chugga-chugga-chugga.
From "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau
Apple finally overthrew Nvidia to reclaim the title of the world’s largest company by market capitalization, underscoring the dramatic degree to which the iPhone maker’s stock is clobbering the broader technology universe.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
The stock is up nearly 20% over the past 12 months, underscoring appetite for its Rafale fighter and Falcon business jets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 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
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
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.
