underline

1 of 2

verb

un·​der·​line ˈən-dər-ˌlīn  ˌən-dər-ˈlīn 

underlined; underlining; underlines

transitive verb

1

: to mark (something, such as a word) with a line underneath

2

: to put emphasis on : stress

3

: to show clearly or emphatically

underline

2 of 2

noun

un·​der·​line ˈən-dər-ˌlīn 

1

: the outline of a quadruped's underbody

also : the ventral surface of a quadruped's body

2

: a horizontal line placed underneath something

Synonyms

Verb

• accentuate
• bring out
• emphasize
• italicize
• stress
• underscore

Examples of underline in a Sentence

Verb

His name was underlined in the book.

The accident underlines our need for better safety procedures.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

One of the more serious segments of the conversation came as the trio turned their attention to the Supreme Court with Biden underlining the importance of the upcoming election in shaping the future of the nation’s highest ruling body. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 June 2024

That underlines this stat: West remains the all-time leader in Finals scoring from an era when there was no 3-point shot. —Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 14 June 2024

Noun

The ceremony put an underline on a legislative session that featured state policymakers looking again and again to the state surplus to flatten inequalities. —Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 1 June 2024

The crises over Taiwan and Ukraine underline this fact. —G. John Ikenberry, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

underline

verb

un·​der·​line

ˈən-dər-ˌlīn,

ˌən-dər-ˈlīn

1

: to draw a line under : underscore

2

: emphasize

underline

ˈən-dər-ˌlīn

noun