emphasis

/ˈemfəsɪs/
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Special importance given to something, and the spoken or written stress that makes a word or idea stand out.

Examples

  • Her lecture gave equal emphasis to theory and practice.
  • She repeated the final word with quiet emphasis.
  • The campaign shifted its emphasis from speed to reliability.
  • The school has a strong emphasis on reading and writing.
  • The emphasis falls on the second syllable.

Similar words

focus
weight
priority
importance
stress
force
prominence
highlighting
attention
marking

Meanings

Special importance or focus

noun
communication
neutral
Special attention or importance given to a subject, aim, or part of something.

Examples

  • The new policy puts more emphasis on affordable housing.
  • Her lecture gave equal emphasis to theory and practice.
  • The school has a strong emphasis on reading and writing.
  • Different departments bring different emphases to the project.
  • The campaign shifted its emphasis from speed to reliability.

Similar words

Stress in speech or writing

noun
language
neutral
Extra force, prominence, or marking that makes a word, syllable, or phrase stand out.

Examples

  • The emphasis falls on the second syllable.
  • She repeated the final word with quiet emphasis.
  • Italics can show emphasis in printed text.
  • In HTML, the element marks stress emphasis.
  • Changing the emphasis can change the meaning of the sentence.

Similar words

Etymology

From Latin emphasis, borrowed from Greek emphasis, originally appearance or show and later rhetorical significance. It comes from emphainein, meaning to show, display, or indicate.

FAQ

What does emphasis mean?

Emphasis means special importance or attention, and it can also mean the force or marking that makes a word stand out.

Is it emphasis on or emphasis in?

Emphasis on is the normal phrase for the thing receiving special importance, as in emphasis on safety.

What is emphasis in speech?

In speech, emphasis is extra force or prominence given to a word, phrase, or syllable.

What is emphasis in writing?

In writing, emphasis is a way of making text stand out, often with italics, bold type, underlining, or markup.

What is the plural of emphasis?

The plural of emphasis is emphases.

Is emphasis a verb?

No. emphasis is a noun. The verb is emphasize in American English or emphasise in British English.

Where does emphasis come from?

Emphasis came through Latin from Greek, where it was connected with showing, appearance, and suggestive expression.

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