Meaning & use
emphasize or emphasise
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
to give special importance or attention to something when speaking or writing
Grammar: Takes an object: emphasize a point. You can also emphasize that + clause: She emphasized that safety was important.
Patterns
- emphasize something
- emphasize that + clause
- emphasize the importance of something
- emphasize how/what/when + clause
The teacher emphasized the need to check your work carefully.
In his speech, the mayor emphasized that the city would rebuild the bridge.
The report emphasizes how quickly the climate is changing.
verbtransitive
to make something more noticeable or prominent, for example by using bold print or a special tone of voice
Grammar: Often used about visual or sound features: emphasize a word by underlining it.
Patterns
- emphasize something
- emphasize something with something
You can emphasize key terms by putting them in bold.
She emphasized her point by tapping the table.
The dark frame emphasizes the brightness of the painting.
Word forms
| third person singular | emphasizes |
|---|---|
| past tense | emphasized |
| past participle | emphasized |
| -ing form | emphasizing |
| British spelling | emphasise |
Common combinations
- emphasize the importance of
- The doctor emphasized the importance of regular exercise.
- emphasize a point
- He emphasized his point by repeating it twice.
- strongly emphasize
- The guide strongly emphasizes the need to book tickets early.
- emphasize that
- She emphasized that the deadline could not be changed.
- emphasize the need for
- The article emphasizes the need for better funding.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stress
- Very similar in meaning, but stress is more common in everyday speech; emphasize is slightly more formal.
- highlight
- Focuses on drawing attention to something, often visually; emphasize can be more about importance in speech or writing.
- underline
- Often used figuratively to mean emphasize strongly, but it can also mean literally draw a line under.
Opposites
Word family
- emphasis noun
- Special importance given to something.
- emphatic adjective
- Expressed with strong force or clearness.
- emphatically adverb
- In a strong and clear way.
Commonly confused: emphasize or emphasise or emphasise?
emphasize or emphasise vs emphasise
This is the British spelling of the same word. Use emphasize in American English.
Practice
Which sentence uses the correct spelling for American English?
Choose one answer.
In American English, the correct spelling is emphasize (with a z). Option An and C use British spellings (emphasised, emphasises), and option D is a misspelling.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “emphasize or emphasise”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.