emphasis

noun em·pha·sis \ ˈem(p)-fə-səs \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of emphasis

plural emphases play \ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsēz\

1 a : 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

See emphasis defined for English-language learners

See emphasis defined for kids

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 of emphasis from the Web

The corporate and investment bank would place more emphasis on serving companies (eg, merger advice, managing payments and hedging against shifts in interest and exchange rates) and become more selective in serving institutions such as hedge funds.

— The Economist, "Germany’s biggest lender is in the doldrums," 5 Apr. 2018
In fact, leading organizations across every industry place a huge emphasis on meeting strategic objectives.

— NBC News, "5 ways to overcome low employee morale," 3 Apr. 2018
The Conners, for instance, place a large emphasis on the value of gathering around the dinner table for family meals.

— cleveland.com, "3 money lessons we can learn from 'Roseanne'," 3 Apr. 2018
These advocates seek to place the emphasis back on the victims, survivors, the communities, and the first responders.

— jaclyn schildkraut, Vox, "The media should stop making school shooters famous," 31 Mar. 2018
Other economic historians place substantially more emphasis on railroads and the Interstate Highway System, for instance.

— robert glennon, New York Times, "Three Authors See Water, Water Everywhere, for Better and Worse," 30 Mar. 2018
The company has also acquired BG Group, a major natural gas company, as part of placing greater emphasis on producing natural gas, which releases fewer greenhouse gases during combustion than oil or coal.

— chris mooney and steven mufson, chicagotribune.com, "Shell outlines scenario for what it would take to halt climate change," 27 Mar. 2018
The school places emphasis on the child's academic and physical development, as well as his or her moral shaping, nurtured by the Christian faith.

— staff report, Houston Chronicle, "Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School accepting applications," 27 Mar. 2018
The Chinese government and Xi himself have placed a huge emphasis on shoring up the country's economy to avoid collapse or recession.

— ben westcott, CNN, "Xi Jinping is making sweeping changes to how China is run," 16 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of emphasis

Latin, from Greek, exposition, emphasis, from emphainein to indicate, from en- + phainein to show — more at fancy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1534

in the meaning defined at sense 1b

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emphasis Synonyms

EMPHASIS Defined for English Language Learners

emphasis

noun

Definition of emphasis for English Language Learners

: a forceful quality in the way something is said or written
: added force that is given to a word or syllable when speaking
: special importance or attention given to something

EMPHASIS Defined for Kids

emphasis

noun em·pha·sis \ ˈem-fə-səs \

Definition of emphasis for Students

plural emphases \-ˌsēz\

1 : a forcefulness in the way something is said or written that gives it special attention or importance

2 : special force given to one or more words or syllables in speaking or reading

In the word "vacation," the emphasis is on the second syllable.

3 : special attention or importance given to something

Learn More about emphasis

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for emphasis Spanish Central: Translation of emphasis Nglish: Translation of emphasis for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of emphasis for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about emphasis

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emphasis

Definition of emphasis

Examples of emphasis in a Sentence

Recent Examples of emphasis from the Web

Origin and Etymology of emphasis

emphasis Synonyms

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EMPHASIS Defined for English Language Learners

emphasis

Definition of emphasis for English Language Learners

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emphasis

Definition of emphasis for Students

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