emphasis

noun

em·pha·sis ˈem(p)-fə-səs

plural emphases ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsēz

Synonyms of emphasis next

: force or intensity of expression that gives impressiveness or importance to something

: a particular prominence given in reading or speaking to one or more words or syllables

: special consideration of or stress or insistence on something

Examples of emphasis in a Sentence

Our candidate's plan has a different emphasis. a prep school with a long-established emphasis on sports

Recent Examples on the Web Siskel’s test, far from having any practical application, is a vivid thought-experiment to shift a viewer’s emphasis toward the real lives of a movie’s creators and the inner lives that the finished work reflects. —

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023 There’s also an emphasis on celebration in the production, which begins with a birthday party and asks the audience to sing along with the mischievous peddler Autolycus. —

Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023 The emphasis on Country music is accretive, and the goodwill from those who attended this first iteration festival helps build the base from which sustainability will grow. —

Eric Fuller, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Not since the Spice Girls has pop culture seen such an emphasis on the importance of friendship in women’s lives. —

Isa Meyers, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Nov. 2023 The emphasis should be on school choice, school performance, discipline, and student achievement. —

Albert Cheng, National Review, 12 Nov. 2023 Essentially swapping out that portion of screen time for the subplot about Miles and his co-workers puts the emphasis back on the complications of space, which is the show’s sweet spot. —

Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023 The book explores the sartorial look of these and other shows, which Rubenstein has divided into themes, from period dramas like Mad Men and Brideshead Revisited to series that put an emphasis on female independence, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Scandal and Ally McBeal. —

Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Nov. 2023 Their gift of gab was obvious, but drag’s emphasis is mostly on visual elements — hair, makeup, glamorous thematic fashion — so podcasts seemed counterintuitive. —

Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emphasis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, "use of language to imply more than is actually said, implication" (Late Latin also "appearance," Medieval Latin "prominence of expression, stress"), borrowed from Greek émphasis "appearance in a smooth surface, reflection, outward appearance, setting forth, exposition, significance, force of expression," from empha-, stem in noun derivation of emphaínein "to exhibit, display, indicate," emphaínesthai "to be reflected, become visible" (from em- en- entry 2 + phaínein "to bring to light, cause to appear," and phaínesthai "to become visible, appear") + -sis -sis — more at fantasy entry 1, phase entry 1

Note: Greek pha- can be a stem in nominal derivation of both phaínein and the verb phēmí, phánai "to speak, say," so that prefixed words formed with it may have senses relating to both appearance and to speech or language, as is the case with émphasis. For the underlying relation between the two verbs see the note at ban entry 1.

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler

The first known use of emphasis was in 1534

See more words from the same year