emphasize

UK: /ˈɛmfəsaɪz/ US: /ˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/ ,(em′fə sīz′)

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

emphasizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

emphasizing

v pres p (US & UK)

emphasized

v past (US & UK)

emphasized

v past p (US & UK)

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

em•pha•size /ˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/   v. [~ + object] , -sized, -siz•ing. 

1. to give emphasis to;
   stress:
   He emphasized the point I had already made.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

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

1. to give emphasis to;
   lay stress upon;
   stress:
   to emphasize a point; to emphasize the eyes with mascara.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] em′pha•sise′. 

• emphas(is) + -ize 1820–30

Synonyms

accent, accentuate, highlight.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

emphasize, emphasise / ˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/ verb

1. (transitive) to give emphasis or prominence to; stress