as in to emphasize
to indicate the importance of by giving prominent display
the dean's speech underlined some of the impressive accomplishments racked up by members of the graduation class
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underline
He was later identified as a self-publicist rather than a protestor, and the boos that greeted his arrival among the players underlined that most fans had not wished for distractions on a night of high footballing stakes.
—
Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
The number of homes approved under the Complete Communities incentive — which lets developers build many more units than the underlining zoning would otherwise allow — has skyrocketed from 170 in 2022 to 1,131 in 2023 and to 1,917 in 2024.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
By sending Rip off to sleep precisely at the moment America declares its independence, Irving underlines how radically life would be altered by the ensuing Revolution.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
This example underlines the threat cyber attacks pose to the national power grid.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underline
Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
The number of homes approved under the Complete Communities incentive — which lets developers build many more units than the underlining zoning would otherwise allow — has skyrocketed from 170 in 2022 to 1,131 in 2023 and to 1,917 in 2024.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
By sending Rip off to sleep precisely at the moment America declares its independence, Irving underlines how radically life would be altered by the ensuing Revolution.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
This example underlines the threat cyber attacks pose to the national power grid.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underline
Verb
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The five-year plan in focus this week is expected to emphasize China’s economic security and technological innovation in sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, new energy and biotechnology.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
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Movement organizers have emphasized nonviolent action and conducted safety training to promote de-escalation techniques.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Steven Adler published an analysis showing that ChatGPT repeatedly and falsely reinforced one man’s delusions and psychological distress.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
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The universal love is the applause, either heard in person or received from afar, a love reinforced by the sense of an instant, intimate family—a life backstage or in the trailer, far more interesting than the often unhappy family left behind.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underline. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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