highlight

1 of 2

noun

high·​light ˈhī-ˌlīt 

plural highlights

1

a

: something (such as an event or detail) that is of major significance or special interest

Visiting the Alps was a highlight of their trip to Europe.

b

: a summary of the most significant or interesting parts of something (such as a completed sporting event) presented typically on a television broadcast

—usually plural

watched highlights of the night's games

2

: a spot or area that is lighter than surrounding spots or areas: such as

a

: the lightest part or one of the lightest parts of a painting, drawing, etc.

especially : one that depicts the areas of the subject receiving the greatest amount of illumination

added highlights to the painting

used white pencil for the highlights and charcoal for the shadows

b

: a lighter area of the hair

specifically : such an area created artificially (as through the application of chemical substances)

—usually plural

brown hair with blond highlights

highlight

2 of 2

verb

highlighted; highlighting; highlights

transitive verb

1

: to throw a strong light on

The moon highlighted the tree tops.

Outdoor lighting is an important part of any garden design, providing ambiance and highlighting key features like plants, water features, and walkways.

—East End Taste Magazine (online)

2

a

: to center attention on : emphasize, stress

The speech will highlight the need for education reform.

b

: to constitute a significant or especially interesting part of : to constitute a highlight of

His trip to Italy was highlighted by a visit to the Colosseum.

The defending champion Bulldogs won three events, highlighted by Kowal's record in the 100-meter breaststroke …

—Harvey Araton

3

a

: to mark (text) with or as if with a highlighter (see highlighter sense 2)

Encourage them to keep a journal and to highlight important entries.

—Jessica Schrader

Whenever this pattern reversed itself, the numbers in Table 2 were highlighted in bold print.

—LuAnn Soliah et al.

b

: to cause (something, such as text or an icon) to be displayed in a way that stands out on an electronic screen (as of a computer or smartphone)

highlighted the sentence and deleted it

By clicking on highlighted words, called hot links, you're instantly taken to other Internet sites that offer additional or related information.

—Victoria Von Biel

4

: to add highlights (see highlight entry 1 sense 2b) to (hair)

Jonathan, old enough now that he no longer lets his mom highlight his thick brown hair, plays guitar and likes to shoot hoops with his dad …

—Patrick Rogers, et al.

To add drama to her already highlighted hair, Beyoncé has fine, platinum highlights temporarily bonded to the strands around her face.

—Barb Sgroi

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of highlight in a Sentence

Noun

I missed the game, but I saw the highlights on the evening news.

Verb

Unfortunately, the media insisted upon highlighting his troubled past.

Our trip was highlighted by a great jazz concert we attended.

The students highlighted important vocabulary words in their textbooks.

Important names and dates in each chapter are highlighted.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The soft, upcycled wool and fleece lining was a particular highlight, while the EVA midsole offers great support for extended periods of standing or walking. —Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023

Available in six colors at an affordable price, it’s set to be a highlight of your collection. —Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023

Her modeling career highlights include the cover of Marie Claire, as well as for brands including Armani, La Perla and Victoria's Secret. —Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023

Other highlights from the collection include vintages of the First Growths, large formats from Pomerol and Saint-Emilion including Cheval Blanc and Pétrus, champagne from Salon and Cristal, and classic Napa from Dunn and Philip Togni. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Nov. 2023

Take a half-mile stroll through Brookside Gardens’ Garden of Lights in Wheaton, where highlights include long tunnels of lights and animated animals. —Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023

The Foos previously visited Austin City Limits in 2009 and 2015, highlights from which were compiled into an hour-long 2021 special. —Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 16 Nov. 2023

The Israelis also say that Hamas’s use of the hospital highlights how the group defends itself with human shields. —Iyad Abuheweila, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023

But one of the major highlights of the past few years has been the Ms. Marvel TV series, in which Pakistani-American teen Kamala Khan discovers an intergalactic bracelet belonging to her grandmother, and boom! —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023

Verb

Our flagship newsletter highlights the best of The New Yorker, including top stories, fiction, humor, and podcasts. —Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2023

The perks employees want as standard Survey data of more than 5,400 U.S. workers from Gallup and Bentley University has highlighted which workplace policies employees say would have the greatest positive impact on their well-being. —Byeamon Barrett, Fortune, 22 Nov. 2023

While the full details behind the firing of CEO Sam Altman are still not known, the turbulent events highlight wider societal questions over who will control this powerful transformative technology. —Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Nov. 2023

While most recommendations highlight the importance of sleep duration, not all emphasize maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, according to Rebecca Robbins, MMSci, PhD, a sleep researcher at Harvard Medical School. —Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 22 Nov. 2023

The mega-successful K-pop quartet were invested with honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by King Charles to honor the group’s support for campaigns highlighting climate change. —Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023

Recent data on how much money people have tucked away in their 401(k) plans highlights just how far most Americans have to go to reach their retirement savings goals. —Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2023

Unlike many of the other educational videos on YouTube, the videos on Gracie's Corner often highlight Black culture. —Stephanie Claytor, Parents, 20 Nov. 2023

Get The Recipe 02 Brown Butter Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles highlight the spice of the season: cinnamon. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 10 Nov. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

highlight

1 of 2 noun

high·​light ˈhī-ˌlīt 

1

: the brightest spot or area (as in a painting or drawing)

2

: something (as an event or detail) that is of major interest

highlight

2 of 2 verb

highlighted; highlighting

1

: to throw a strong light on

2

a

: to center attention on : emphasize

b

: to be a highlight of

3

a

: to mark (text) with a highlighter pen

b

: to cause (as text) to stand out on a computer screen