2
general::
verb ADV. strongly | rightly The new law rightly emphasizes parental responsibility. VERB + EMPHASIZE must, should I must emphasize that this is only a summary, and the full report will not be available until next week. | be important to It is important to emphasize this point. | seem to, serve to, tend to All the arguments and counter-arguments serve to emphasize the controversy surrounding this disease. | fail to | be at pains to, be keen to I have been at pains to emphasize the positive aspects of discipline.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
3
general::
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.
Longman-Thesaurus