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:
As if to underscore the radical turn these artists were making, the paintings are hung on an ornate plum-red wallpaper in a wainscoted gallery that harks back to the Grand Palais’s look.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
The findings also underscore the value of broadening the range of animal models used in medical research.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
The results of the study, though limited to the Lassen and Harvey wolf packs during a several-month period, underscore the challenges of people coexisting with wolves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 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
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
"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
The hazy love melody “Tremenda,” for example, underscores an intense yearning for connection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
In that sense, the Terman study underscores the argument Annette Lareau makes, that what your parents do for a living, and the assumptions that accompany the class your parents belong to, matter.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
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
Beijing’s support of the sector, underscored by President Xi’s remarks last week at an AI conference, should provide further boost to market sentiment, CE adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Acting police chief Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane has announced a multidisciplinary team to investigate the shooting, which he said underscored the seriousness with which the service was treating the case.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Each decisive battle in Europe and the Pacific further underscored the sharp decline of the remaining Axis Powers.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
"This is really underscoring the importance of healthy fats in keeping metabolism intact and functional," said Oral.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
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
The financing round more than doubled the startup’s valuation, underscoring investor appetite for the defense sector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 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.
