emphasize

verb

em·​pha·​size ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsīz 

emphasized; emphasizing

transitive verb

: to place emphasis on : stress

emphasized the need for reform

Synonyms

• accent
• accentuate
• feature
• foreground
• highlight
• illuminate
• play up
• point (up)
• press
• punctuate
• stress

Examples of emphasize in a Sentence

supermarket tabloids that emphasize sensational news stories

that huge belt buckle only emphasizes his big gut

Recent Examples on the Web

Similarly, Lesly Leon, bound for an administrative fellowship at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, emphasized the duality of personal and community growth in a meaningful career. —Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

But Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the U.S. while Israel continued attacking. —Arkansas Online, 21 June 2025

Attracting top indie talent from around the world, the biggest animation studios and thousands of students, this year’s festival emphasized seismic shifts in anime distribution, labor advocacy, cross-border collaboration and, of course, AI. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 20 June 2025

Newsom, however, emphasized the limits of the appellate decision. —Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

emphas(is) + -ize

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing emphasize

• de-emphasize
• re-emphasize

Rhymes for emphasize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

emphasize

verb

em·​pha·​size ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsīz 

emphasized; emphasizing

: to place emphasis on : stress as being important or so as to stand out