underscore

1 of 2

verb

un·​der·​score ˈən-dər-ˌskȯr 

underscored; underscoring; underscores

transitive verb

1

: to draw a line under : underline

2

: to make evident : emphasize, stress

arrived early to underscore the importance of the occasion

3

: to provide (action on film) with accompanying music

underscore

2 of 2

noun

1

: a line drawn under a word or line especially for emphasis or to indicate intent to italicize

2

: music accompanying the action and dialogue of a film

Synonyms of underscore

Verb

• emphasize
• reinforce

Examples of underscore in a Sentence

Verb

These failures underscore the difficulty of what we're attempting to do.

The President's visit underscores the administration's commitment to free trade.

She underscored the most important points.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

On Tuesday, two separate judges in the Eastern District of Virginia issued orders underscoring that her time in office had ended. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 21 Jan. 2026

These figures underscore the growing institutional interest in hedge funds as vehicles for both diversification and outperformance. —Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Noun

Data from Mizuho underscore how concentrated the exposure already is. —Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026

Dispensing with the snippets of dialogue and long stretches of quiet underscore typical of these kinds of releases, Lopatin cruises on a relentless pulse that evokes the movie’s sustained state of tongue-in-cheek nerviness. —Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for underscore

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore

Kids Definition

underscore

verb

un·​der·​score

ˈən-dər-ˌskō(ə)r, 

-ˌskȯ(ə)r

1

: to draw a line under : underline

2

: emphasize

underscore noun