de-emphasize

UK: /diːˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/ US: /diˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/ ,(dē em′fə sīz′)

Inflections of 'de-emphasize' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

de-emphasizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

de-emphasizing

v pres p (US & UK)

de-emphasized

v past (US & UK)

de-emphasized

v past p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

de-em•pha•size /diˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/   v. [ ~ + obj], -sized, -siz•ing. 

1. to place less emphasis upon; reduce the importance of:
   to de-emphasize sports.

de--em•pha•sis /diˈɛmfəsɪs/  n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de-em•pha•size  (dē em′fə sīz′), v.t., -sized, -siz•ing. 

1. to place less emphasis upon;
   reduce in importance, size, scope, etc.:
   The university de-emphasized intercollegiate football.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] de-em′pha•sise′. 

• de- + emphasize 1935–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

de-emphasize, de-emphasise / diːˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/ verb

1. (transitive) to remove emphasis from