# highlight

/ˈhaɪˌɫaɪt/ (US) · /hˈaɪlaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/highlight
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to emphasize

verb · CEFR B1 · Academic

to draw special attention to something important.

For teachers: to make something prominent or to emphasize a specific point within a broader context.

- The report highlights the need for better security in the office.
- The keynote speaker chose to highlight the discrepancy between the projected revenue and the actual quarterly earnings.

Usage: Often used in academic or professional writing to introduce a key finding.

### 2. to mark text

verb · CEFR B1

to mark words in a book or on a screen with a bright colour.

For teachers: to mark passages of text with a different colour, typically using a fluorescent pen or digital tool, for later reference.

- I highlighted the most important dates in my history textbook.
- Students are encouraged to highlight key terminology while reading the primary source material to facilitate easier review before the examination.

### 3. to dye hair

verb · CEFR B2

to dye small parts of your hair a lighter colour.

For teachers: to dye specific strands of hair a different, usually lighter, colour than the rest.

- She decided to highlight her hair for the summer.
- The stylist suggested highlighting the front sections to frame her face more effectively.

### 4. the best part

noun · CEFR B1

the most exciting or important part of an event.

For teachers: the most significant, interesting, or memorable detail or event within a period of time.

- The highlight of our trip was seeing the Grand Canyon at sunset.
- The documentary provides a fascinating look at the highlights of the artist's career, from her early sketches to her final masterpieces.

### 5. bright spot in art

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a very bright or light spot in a photo or painting.

For teachers: an area of high luminous intensity in an image, drawing, or photograph.

- The artist used white paint to create a highlight on the glass bottle.
- The photographer adjusted the exposure to prevent the highlights on the water's surface from becoming overexposed and losing detail.

### 6. coloured hair strands

noun · CEFR B2

lighter or different coloured streaks in someone's hair.

For teachers: strands of hair that have been tinted or bleached to contrast with the natural hair colour.

- She went to the salon to get some blonde highlights.
- Subtle highlights can add dimension to dark hair without requiring a complete colour change.

## Examples

- The highlight of the trip was seeing the mountains.
- The sports news showed a three-minute highlight of the championship game for those who missed the live broadcast.
- While the entire conference was productive, the keynote address on renewable energy was undoubtedly the highlight of the week for most attendees.

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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.