UNDERLINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does underline mean? 

• UNDERLINE (noun)
  The noun UNDERLINE has 1 sense:

1. a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)

  Familiarity information: UNDERLINE used as a noun is very rare.

• UNDERLINE (verb)
  The verb UNDERLINE has 2 senses:

1. give extra weight to (a communication)

2. draw a line or lines underneath to call attention to

  Familiarity information: UNDERLINE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNDERLINE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

underline; underscore

Hypernyms ("underline" is a kind of...):

stroke (a mark made on a surface by a pen, pencil, or paintbrush)

Derivation:

underline (draw a line or lines underneath to call attention to)

• UNDERLINE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they underline    ... he / she / it underlines   
Past simple: underlined   
Past participle: underlined   
-ing form: underlining   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give extra weight to (a communication)

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

emphasise; emphasize; underline; underscore

Context example:

Her gesture emphasized her words

Hypernyms (to "underline" is one way to...):

accent; accentuate; emphasise; emphasize; punctuate; stress (to stress, single out as important)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 2

Meaning:

Draw a line or lines underneath to call attention to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

underline; underscore

Hypernyms (to "underline" is one way to...):

mark (make or leave a mark on)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

underline (a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter))

 Context examples 

This finding underlines that the majority of common genetic variation is found across the globe.

(Global human genome study reveals our complex evolutionary history, University of Cambridge)

It was open at “In a Balcony,” and I noticed, here and there, passages underlined in pencil.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

She named no names, she said; let them the cap fitted, wear it; but spies, intruders, and informers, especially in widders' weeds (this clause was underlined), she had ever accustomed herself to look down upon.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)