highlighter

UK: /ˈhaɪlaɪtə^r/ US: (hī′lī′tər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

high•light•er  (hī′lī′tər), n. 

1. Clothing a cosmetic used to emphasize some part of the face, as the eyes or the cheekbones.
2. a felt-tip pen with a wide nib for highlighting passages of printed material in a soft, transparent color.

• highlight + er¹ 1965–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

highlighter / ˈhaɪˌlaɪtə/ noun

1. a cosmetic cream or powder applied to the face to highlight the cheekbones, eyes, etc
2. a fluorescent felt-tip pen used as a marker to emphasize a section of text without obscuring it

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

high•light /ˈhaɪˌlaɪt/   v. 

[~ + object]
1. to emphasize or make (something) stand out:
   The paper highlights the difficulties of the working poor.
2. to mark with a felt-tip pen that makes printed matter stand out:
   highlighted important passages of the textbook.
3. Clothing, Photography to create highlights in:
   The hairdresser highlighted her hair.

n. [countable]

4. Also, ˈhigh ˌlight. a memorable or enjoyable event, scene, etc.:
   When she was promoted, it was the highlight of her career.
5. an area of contrasting lightness or brightness:
   brown hair with blonde highlights.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

high•light  (hī′līt′), v., -light•ed, -light•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to emphasize or make prominent.
2. Clothing, Photography to create highlights in (a photograph or engraving).

n. 

3. Also, high′ light′. an important, conspicuous, memorable, or enjoyable event, scene, part, or the like:
   the highlight of his talk; the highlight of the concert series.
4. Photography the area of most intense light on a represented form, as in a painting or photograph.

• high + light¹ 1850–55, American.

hígh′light′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. stress, accent, underline, feature.