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:
Fight choreography was made to look more like brawling, with Chau noting performers dialed back “strong shapes, motions and lines” into characters that are “a little bit more broken down” to underscore the noir aesthetic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
It draws heavily on news reports and what has so far been released from the Epstein files, but does underscore numerous hurdles the investigation has faced.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
The varied reactions to recent earnings reports underscore the market’s broader indecision.
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
Key details: The details of the GDP report underscore just how robust it was.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
As if to underscore his words, at that moment the sky opened, and Kaede stuffed the last bite of her bun into her mouth as they all scrambled for their rain gear.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
The closeness of the race only underscores one of El-Sayed’s challenges going ahead: reuniting a fractured party after a bitter primary campaign.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
"However, this case underscores the importance of vigilance, strong partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and the proactive steps taken to identify and investigate suspicious activity before it can escalate."
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
As the deployment of generative AI makes some work easier and underscores the need to adapt to changing roles, some people are taking courses to obtain AI certifications.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
"This underscores the resiliency of the economy in the face of the energy price shock emanating from the war in the Middle East."
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 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 hostility underscored a widening gulf between legacy networks and a growing ecosystem of independent digital outlets that many young Indians increasingly turn to for news.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
Still, the market’s sharp swings on Wednesday and Thursday underscored how quickly inflation and interest-rate concerns can complicate the bullish case for financials, he noted.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 2, 2026
Bader al-Saif, a professor of history at Kuwait University, said Iran’s tactics underscored that Kuwait is facing a more dangerous security environment and the need to broaden its security partners.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 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
Valid or not, Mary Jane’s conspiracy theories underscored how invested the family was in Reggie’s mission, something he professed to want so badly himself.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
A new round of strong earnings reports powered the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a fresh high on Wednesday, underscoring how surging profits are underpinning the stock-market rally.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Double sauce is not necessary, but I like a little indulgence underscoring the practicality of a packable meal.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
Revenue, however, climbed 28 percent to $60.8 billion, beating estimates and underscoring the continued strength of its advertising business.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
"This is really underscoring the importance of healthy fats in keeping metabolism intact and functional," said Oral.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 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.
