emphasis

noun

em·pha·sis | \ˈem(p)-fə-səs

plural emphases\ ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsēz

Definition of emphasis

1a : 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

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about emphasis

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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

Rodriguez called for responsible gun use and an increased emphasis on mental health, instead of placing the blame on guns themselves. — Bree Burkitt, azcentral, "Heard at rally for 2nd Amendment rights: 'We aren’t letting our guns go'," 7 July 2018 Niccol said the company will ramp up marketing, launch a customer-loyalty program nationally in 2019 and put more emphasis on digital ordering. — Zlati Meyer, USA TODAY, "Chipotle to close up to 65 stores this year," 27 June 2018 That puts more emphasis on getting a good shot off the tee even more. — Shawn Mcfarland, courant.com, "Players Look To Practice Patience At TPC River Highlands This Week," 21 June 2018 The designs of buildings like these put more emphasis on practicality than aesthetics. — Sven Berg, idahostatesman, "Why are Downtown Boise buildings so boring?," 20 June 2018 While often considered an opportunity for lawmakers to put aside their partisan differences for a good cause, the shooting put a new emphasis on focusing on the positive. — Ryan Nobles, CNN, "Scalise records first out in return to Congressional Baseball Game for Charity," 14 June 2018 Onrush veers off the Burnout path by putting a singular emphasis on competitive multiplayer. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "Onrush game review: Sexy arcade racing in serious need of a tune-up," 5 June 2018 Economists put a big emphasis on permits because of all the jobs connected to the real estate industry, such as construction. — Phillip Molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Report: San Diego economy slowed in April after 18 months of growth," 1 June 2018 And there's no doubt that Patricia will put a heavy emphasis on tackling. — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions' new defense as versatile as advertised at OTAs," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'emphasis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.