Entry Word: emphasis

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a special notice or importance given to something <a prep school with a long-established emphasis on sports>

Synonyms accent, accentuation, stress, weight

Related Words attention, concentration, consideration, heed, note, regard; value, worth; consequence, import, moment, significance; precedence, primacy, priority

Near Antonyms apathy, disregard, indifference

2 the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) <the emphasis with which my parents issued the warning about smoking left no doubt that they were serious> — see vehemence 1