em ‧ pha ‧ size S3 W2 AC BrE AmE ( also emphasise British English ) /ˈemfəsaɪz/ verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ emphasize ; noun : ↑ emphasis ; adverb : ↑ emphatically ; adjective : ↑ emphatic ]
1 . to say something in a strong way SYN stress :
The report emphasizes the importance of improving safety standards.
Logan made a speech emphasizing the need for more volunteers.
emphasize that/how
The Prime Minister emphasized that there are no plans to raise taxes.
2 . to say a word or phrase louder or higher than others to give it more importance SYN stress
3 . to make something more noticeable SYN accentuate :
The dress emphasized the shape of her body.
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THESAURUS
▪ emphasize to say strongly or show clearly that a fact, idea etc is especially important:
Our company emphasizes the need for good communication between staff.
▪ stress to emphasize something when you are talking about a subject:
Most schools stress the importance of parental involvement in their child’s learning.
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He stressed the need for parents to listen to their children.
▪ highlight to show that something is important, so that people will pay special attention to it:
This case highlights the need for tougher laws on gun ownership.
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The report highlights the decline in the numbers of native plants and insects.
▪ underline/underscore to help to show clearly that a fact is true, especially a fact that is already known:
These attacks underline the fact that the security situation here remains fragile.
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The president’s speech repeatedly underscored the progress that has been made.
▪ accentuate to show something clearly and make it easier to notice:
The recent economic crisis has accentuated the gap between the rich and the poor.
▪ overemphasize to emphasize something too much:
The relation between food and health is often overemphasized in my view.
▪ play up to emphasize something and make it seem more important than it really is, especially to get advantages for yourself:
The story has been played up by the media.
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The Labour party had a great time playing up the Conservatives’ problems.