italicize

verb

ital·​i·​cize ə-ˈta-lə-ˌsīz How to pronounce italicize (audio)
i-,
ī-
italicized; italicizing

transitive verb

1
: to print in italics or underscore with a single line
2
: emphasize
the microphone italicizes every curdled top noteP. G. Davis
italicization noun

Example Sentences

high-definition television italicizes every line and wrinkle in an actor's face
Recent Examples on the Web The finale had power aplenty, but delicacy, too, with none of the hell-for-leather histrionics that conductors often use to italicize the young Beethoven's sense of derring-do and adventure. Terry Blain Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 24 Nov. 2020 The droplets visually italicize Williams’s wheelbarrow, bringing a lowly piece of hardware to the foreground. Danny Heitman, WSJ, 2 Oct. 2020 The coronavirus crisis has italicized the horrifying costs (measured in actual deaths) of the president’s contempt for science and expertise and the government agencies meant to handle such emergencies. Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, 5 May 2020 Graff’s usually spare background information is italicized. Lucinda Robb, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2019 Davis wrote in his report, italicizing the words for emphasis. Peter Jamison, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2019 The five songs that saw a decrease in streaming totals are italicized. Xander Zellner, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2019 Below, find a full list of nominees in each category, with winners signified by an asterisk (*) and italicized boldface. Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 8 Jan. 2018 In 2014, at Christie’s in New York, Ruscha’s 1963 Smash (that word, italicized and all caps, yellow on dark blue) was hammered down at $30.4 million. Mark Rozzo, Vanities, 30 May 2018 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of italicize was in 1795

Dictionary Entries Near italicize

Cite this Entry

“Italicize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/italicize. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

italicize

verb
ital·​i·​cize ə-ˈtal-ə-ˌsīz How to pronounce italicize (audio)
i-,
ī-
italicized; italicizing
: to print in italics or underline with a single line

More from Merriam-Webster on italicize

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