emphasis
noun
em·pha·sis
ˈem(p)-fə-səs 
plural emphases
ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsēz
1
a
: force or intensity of expression that gives impressiveness or importance to something
b
: a particular prominence given in reading or speaking to one or more words or syllables
2
: special consideration of or stress or insistence on something
Examples of emphasis in a Sentence
Our candidate's plan has a different emphasis.
a prep school with a long-established emphasis on sports
Recent Examples on the Web
These trips are an important opportunity to spend time with producers, review the prior year’s crop, taste coffees as they are being harvested, and meet new partners that are aligned with our company’s emphasis on organic production and benchmark quality.
—
Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Since Craig Breslow took over as Boston’s chief baseball officer the Red Sox have placed a greater emphasis on pitching.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025
Interim manager Warren Schaeffer, who served as Triple-A Albuquerque’s manager prior to his arrival at the big-league level, acknowledged that analytics’ role in development needs to be a point of emphasis.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 12 July 2025
Site selection consultant Tom Stringer, a principal and leader of the site selection and incentives practice at Grassi Advisors in New York, said that emphasis on economic strength and stability stands to reason.
—Scott Cohn, CNBC, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for emphasis
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Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Since Craig Breslow took over as Boston’s chief baseball officer the Red Sox have placed a greater emphasis on pitching.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025
Interim manager Warren Schaeffer, who served as Triple-A Albuquerque’s manager prior to his arrival at the big-league level, acknowledged that analytics’ role in development needs to be a point of emphasis.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 12 July 2025
Site selection consultant Tom Stringer, a principal and leader of the site selection and incentives practice at Grassi Advisors in New York, said that emphasis on economic strength and stability stands to reason.
—Scott Cohn, CNBC, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for emphasis
Cite this Entry
“Emphasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emphasis. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
emphasis
noun
em·pha·sis
ˈem(p)-fə-səs
plural emphases
-fə-ˌsēz
1
a
: forcefulness of expression
spoke with emphasis
b
: the act or fact of giving stress to a word or syllable when speaking
2
: special attention or importance given to something
put great emphasis on cleanliness
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