emphasize

verb

em·​pha·​size ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsīz How to pronounce emphasize (audio)
emphasized; emphasizing

transitive verb

: to place emphasis on : stress
emphasized the need for reform

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 But the court emphasized that the penalty should be closely tied to the cost of the training. Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023 Failure to make progress now increases humanity’s future reliance on still-nascent technologies like carbon capture, which will attempt to scrub carbon from the atmosphere, the UN emphasizes. Matt Simon, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023 The immensity of the project emphasizes the care and purpose with which Marshall demands space for considering a subject that is too often overlooked in contemporary art. Kerry James Marshall, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023 On Saturday, Netanyahu emphasized that no deal is done. Nbc Universal, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2023 The goal isn’t to completely eliminate these reminders from your life, Dr. Cormier emphasizes. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Nov. 2023 In an oral tradition, Gladstone emphasizes, there’s no one way of seeing things; each person’s narrative is the truth. Selome Hailu, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023 The treatise also emphasized the importance of display and order. Anne Wallentine, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Nov. 2023 There is a tradition of writing about antisemitism which simply emphasizes these long continuities. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emphasize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

emphas(is) + -ize

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emphasize was in 1793

Dictionary Entries Near emphasize

Cite this Entry

“Emphasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emphasize. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

emphasize

verb
em·​pha·​size ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsīz How to pronounce emphasize (audio)
emphasized; emphasizing
: to place emphasis on : stress as being important or so as to stand out

More from Merriam-Webster on emphasize

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