# emphasized

/ˈɛmfəˌsaɪzd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/emphasized
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to give importance

verb · CEFR B2

to give special importance to something when you are speaking or writing.

For teachers: to give special importance or prominence to something in speaking or writing. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The teacher emphasized that the homework was due by Friday morning.
- The report emphasized the urgent need for structural reforms within the department to prevent further budget overruns.

Usage: Often followed by a 'that' clause or a direct noun object.

### 2. highlighted or stressed

adjective · CEFR B2

describes something that has been given extra focus or made to stand out.

For teachers: having been given extra stress, focus, or prominence. Often used to describe specific words in a text or points in a presentation.

- The emphasized words in the instructions were printed in bold.
- The emphasized points in the presentation were those most likely to influence the board's final decision on the merger.

## Examples

- The teacher emphasized the importance of arriving on time.
- During the safety briefing, the flight attendant emphasized that all electronic devices must be switched to airplane mode.
- The report emphasized the correlation between early childhood education and long-term economic stability, urging policymakers to increase funding for local preschool programs immediately.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.