underscore

/ˈʌndərˌskɔːr/

Say it: UN-der-skor

1. verb To emphasize or show the importance of something.
The tragic accident underscores the need for stricter safety regulations.
2. noun The symbol ( _ ) on a keyboard, used in computer file names and email addresses.
Please separate the words in the filename with an underscore.
3. verb To draw a line under a word or phrase.
He underscored the most important sentence in the paragraph with a ruler.

📖 Seen in the wild

The recent report serves to underscore the urgent need for educational reform.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ underscore in a sentence

The CEO's speech served to underscore the company's commitment to sustainability.
Her frequent glances at the clock only underscored her impatience.
In your code, use an underscore to denote a private variable.
The final report will underscore the key findings from our months of research.
His testimony underscored the fact that the defendant was nowhere near the scene of the crime.
The empty streets on a Tuesday morning underscore the town's economic decline.
The teacher asked the students to underscore any unfamiliar words in the text.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

emphasize highlight stress accentuate underline feature spotlight point up

emphasize · a more general and neutral term for giving importance to something.

highlight · often suggests focusing on a key or positive feature to make it stand out.

stress · implies greater urgency or force in the emphasis.

accentuate · means to make a particular feature more noticeable or prominent.

Opposites: downplay, minimize, understate, de-emphasize, overlook

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'underscore' is a straightforward combination of 'under' and 'score', which has meant 'to make a line or mark' since the 14th century. Its original meaning was the literal act of marking a line beneath text for emphasis. Over time, this physical action gave rise to the more common figurative meaning of emphasizing an idea or fact.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

underscore the importance ofunderscore the need forserves to underscoreunderscore the fact thatunderscore a point

While 'underscore' and 'underline' can both refer to the literal act of drawing a line, 'underscore' is now far more common for the figurative sense of 'to emphasize'. Using it adds a degree of formality and weight, making it a good choice in professional or academic writing. Be aware that in technical contexts, 'underscore' almost exclusively refers to the '_' character.

💬 Quick answers

What does 'underscore' mean?

It most commonly means to emphasize or stress the importance of something. It can also refer to the literal act of drawing a line under text, or the name of the '_' character on a keyboard.

What is the difference between 'underscore' and 'underline'?

While both can mean drawing a line under text, 'underscore' is more frequently used figuratively to mean 'emphasize'. 'Underline' can also be used this way, but it is more often used for the literal action.

Is 'underscore' a formal word?

When used to mean 'emphasize', 'underscore' is considered a neutral to slightly formal word. It is common in professional, academic, and journalistic writing.

How do you use an underscore in a sentence?

As a verb, you could say, 'These statistics underscore the problem.' As a noun referring to the symbol, you might say, 'My username is first_name.'

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