em‧pha‧size S3 W2 AC ( also emphasise British English ) / emfəsaɪz / 动词 [及物动词]

1 to say something in a strong way 同义词 stress :

The report emphasizes the importance of improving safety standards.

Logan made a speech emphasizing the need for more volunteers.

emphasize that/how

The Prime Minister emphasized that there are no plans to raise taxes.

2 to say a word or 短语 louder or higher than others to give it more importance 同义词 stress

3 to make something more noticeable 同义词 accentuate :

The dress emphasized the shape of her body.

THESAURUS

emphasize to say strongly or show clearly that a fact, idea etc is especially important : Our company emphasizes the need for good communication between staff.

stress to emphasize something when you are talking about a subject : Most schools stress the importance of parental involvement in their child’s learning. | He stressed the need for parents to listen to their children.

highlight to show that something is important, so that people will pay special attention to it : This case highlights the need for tougher laws on gun ownership. | The report highlights the decline in the numbers of native plants and insects.

underline/underscore to help to show clearly that a fact is true, especially a fact that is already known : These attacks underline the fact that the security situation here remains fragile. | The president’s speech repeatedly underscored the progress that has been made.

accentuate to show something clearly and make it easier to notice : The recent economic crisis has accentuated the gap between the rich and the poor.

overemphasize to emphasize something too much : The relation between food and health is often overemphasized in my view.

play up to emphasize something and make it seem more important than it really is, especially to get advantages for yourself : The story has been played up by the media. | The Labour party had a great time playing up the Conservatives’ problems.