emphasis
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.em·pha·sis
noun \ˈem(p)-fə-səs\ plural em·pha·ses\-ˌsēz\
Definition of EMPHASIS
1
a : force or intensity of expression that gives impressiveness or importance to something b : a particular prominence given in reading or speaking to one or more words or syllables
2
: special consideration of or stress or insistence on something
See Examples of EMPHASIS
- Our candidate's plan has a different emphasis.
- <a prep school with a long-established emphasis on sports>
Origin of EMPHASIS
Latin, from Greek, exposition, emphasis, from emphainein to indicate, from en- + phainein to show — more at fancy
First Known Use: 1573
Related to EMPHASIS
- Synonyms
- accent, accentuation, stress, underscoring, weight
- Antonyms
- de-emphasis
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