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

The company’s rapid growth since its Series A round underlines customer appetite for such solutions. —David Prosser, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Australian government Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones underlined the tax’s primary function as leverage rather than revenue generation. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Dec. 2024

Noun

Recent posts from Bluesky underline the platform’s moderation challenges and the difficulties of scaling. —Anisha Sircar, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Thompson’s cause was helped on the weekend by jumping eight places from No 41 to No 33 by reaching the Atlanta Open final, but the circumstances of the final underline the dilemma players like Thompson have. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 29 July 2024

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