Definition of underlinenext
as in to emphasize
to indicate the importance of by giving prominent display the dean's speech underlined some of the impressive accomplishments racked up by members of the graduation class

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underline The key thing to underline is what happens on election day in Israel is just the first stage in the process of forming a new government. — Dov Waxman, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2026 The video, Droney’s directorial debut, was shot in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park and underlines the song’s timely call to hold onto life’s tangible matters with a cast of friends, family, and local couples captured in different phases of their life. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026 At the time, leader Kim Jong un highlighted the need to equip the navy with nuclear weapons, underlining Pyongyang’s intention to strengthen its maritime deterrence capabilities. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 President Donald Trump‘s appearance in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday underlines the Mahoning Valley as a bellwether of whether Democrats can win back the white, working-class voters that have rapidly shifted away from the party in recent years. — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underline
Verb
  • Both the Hesburgh Commission report in the early 1980s and the Jordan Commission report in the late 1990s emphasized the need for civic and social assimilation of immigrants.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Out of the company’s 2,000 employees, about 1,800 are locals — for Baima, emphasizing local employment is in pursuit of a larger goal, which is to help employees gain confidence in their own culture and ensuring guests treat it with respect.
    — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The event reinforces our commitment to building a strong, collaborative supply chain that delivers economic growth, innovation and long-term maritime capability in both nations.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese communist party’s central committee, reinforced the criticism through its online commentary platform Renmin Ruiping.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Underline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underline. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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