Underline

/ˌʌn.dəˈlaɪn/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A line drawn under a word or phrase.
The underline in her notes helped her remember the main concepts.
A point or theme that is emphasized or highlighted.
The underline of his argument was that everyone deserves equal rights.
verb
To draw a line underneath (a word or phrase) to indicate emphasis or importance.
Please underline the key terms in your notes.
To emphasize or highlight something.
The teacher wanted to underline the importance of studying for the exam.

Etymology

from Middle English 'underlinen', literally meaning 'to line under'

Common Phrases and Expressions

underline the importance of
to emphasize how significant something is
underline a point
to make a specific argument or statement more prominent
underline the need for
to stress the necessity of something

Related Words

emphasis
special importance or significance placed upon something.
highlight
to make something stand out or to call attention to it.

Slang Meanings

to call out or point out something important
I'm gonna underline that fact in our presentation.
to stress or emphasize an idea in conversation
He really underlined how crucial this decision is.