underscore
gb/ˌʌndɚskˈɔɹ/ us/ˌʌndɚskˈɔɹ/
B2
English
~ 8200
hangsúlyoz, rávilágít, aláhúzásjel, aláhúz, aláfestő zene, zenei aláfestés, aláfest
VERB
B2
1
hangsúlyoz
B1
rávilágít
B2
Usage pattern:
to underscore [something]
The report underscores the urgent need for climate action.
A jelentés hangsúlyozza, hogy sürgősen szükség van klímavédelmi lépésekre.
Her story underscores how dangerous the route can be in winter.
A története rávilágít arra, milyen veszélyes lehet télen ez az útvonal.
These mistakes only underscore the importance of proper training.
The incident underscored the company’s failure to follow safety procedures.
The data underscores the fact that many families are still struggling.
Learner examples
The accident underscores the need for better roads.
A baleset rávilágít arra, hogy jobb utakra van szükség.
This result underscores how hard the team worked.
Ez az eredmény jól mutatja, milyen keményen dolgozott a csapat.
The film underscores the problem of online bullying.
The teacher’s words underscored the value of reading every day.
These numbers underscore that the plan is not working.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'underscore' with 'underline' in this abstract sense. 'Underscore' is used mainly in formal speech and writing to mean 'to strongly emphasize', while 'underline' is usually physical (to draw a line under words) or used in user interfaces.
Meaning
to emphasize something strongly
Collocations
underscore the importance
|underscore the need
|underscore the fact
|serve to underscore
|further underscore
Synonyms
emphasize (The most common general verb; 'underscore' is often slightly more formal and vivid.)
Antonyms
downplay (Means to make something seem less important, the opposite of underscoring it.)
Themes
communication
|business
|media
Definition
To show very clearly that something is important or true.
To draw special attention to something in order to show that it is very important or true.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
2
aláhúzásjel
B2
Usage pattern:
an underscore between [words]
In your username, replace the space with an underscore.
A felhasználónevedben cseréld a szóközt aláhúzásjelre.
Use an underscore between the first and last name in the file title.
A fájlnévben használj aláhúzásjelet a keresztnév és a vezetéknév között.
The password must include at least one underscore and one number.
The script will automatically convert spaces to underscores in the URL.
The column names contain underscores instead of spaces.
Learner examples
Type an underscore between the two words.
Írj aláhúzásjelet a két szó közé.
My email address has an underscore in it.
Az e-mail-címemben van egy aláhúzásjel.
Use an underscore instead of a space in the file name.
Her username has two underscores.
The system does not accept spaces, so I used underscores.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'underscore' with 'dash' or 'hyphen'. The underscore '_' is on the same key as the hyphen on many keyboards but is lower and longer; a dash or hyphen looks like '-'.
Meaning
the _ character in text
Collocations
use an underscore
|insert an underscore
|separated by underscores
|replace spaces with underscores
|type an underscore
Synonyms
underline character (A descriptive term; less common as an actual name for the symbol than 'underscore'.)
Antonyms
space (In many contexts, an underscore is used where a normal space cannot be used, so a space is the usual alternative.)
Themes
technology
|writing
|internet
|communication
Definition
The symbol "_" that is used in computer text, names, and passwords, often instead of a space.
A short horizontal line character (_) used especially in computing, file names, and usernames in place of a space or to separate words.
VERB
B2
3
aláhúz
A2
Usage pattern:
to underscore [a word / a sentence]
Please underscore any words you don’t understand.
Kérlek, húzd alá azokat a szavakat, amelyeket nem értesz.
On the exam, you should underscore the most important points in the passage.
A vizsgán húzd alá a szövegrész legfontosabb pontjait.
The editor underscored the sections that needed to be rewritten.
Key phrases are underscored in blue throughout the document.
She underscored the dates in her notes to make them stand out.
Learner examples
Underscore the main idea in each paragraph.
Húzd alá minden bekezdés fő gondolatát.
The teacher told us to underscore new words.
A tanár azt mondta, húzzuk alá az új szavakat.
I underscored the answer on my paper.
Important dates are underscored in my notebook.
Please underscore the title of the story.
Common mistake:
Learners often use 'underline' instead of 'underscore' here. In everyday classroom English, 'underline' is more common; 'underscore' is correct but sounds more formal or technical.
Meaning
to draw a line under text
Collocations
underscore key terms
|underscored in red
|underscored passages
|automatically underscored
|underscore the title
Synonyms
underline (The common everyday verb for drawing a line under text; 'underscore' is less common and slightly more formal or technical.)
Antonyms
erase (To remove marks from the page, the opposite of adding a line under text.)
Themes
education
|writing
|communication
Definition
To make a line under a word or sentence in writing.
To draw one or more straight lines under a word, phrase, or passage in writing or print, often for emphasis.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
a[n] [adjective] underscore
The gentle piano underscore made the final scene especially moving.
A finom zongorás zenei aláfestés különösen meghatóvá tette a zárójelenetet.
The director asked for a darker underscore under the courtroom dialogue.
A rendező sötétebb zenei aláfestést kért a tárgyalótermi párbeszéd alá.
A subtle string underscore runs through the entire sequence.
Without the musical underscore, the speech felt flat and less emotional.
The composer created a minimalist underscore that never overpowered the actors.
Learner examples
Soft music plays as an underscore while they talk.
Halk zene szól aláfestésként, miközben beszélgetnek.
The movie has a loud underscore in the action scenes.
A film akciójeleneteiben hangos aláfestő zene szól.
The underscore makes the love scene more emotional.
There is no underscore in this scene; we only hear the actors.
The piano underscore starts when he begins his speech.
Meaning
background music under dialogue
Collocations
musical underscore
|subtle underscore
|emotional underscore
|orchestral underscore
|dramatic underscore
Synonyms
background score (Very close in meaning; 'underscore' often suggests music directly under specific dialogue or moments.)
Antonyms
silence (The absence of background sound or music, the opposite of adding an underscore.)
Themes
music
|film
|media
|arts_entertainment
Definition
Quiet music that plays behind people talking or acting in a movie, TV show, or play to give feeling to the scene.
Soft background music that plays underneath dialogue or action in a film, TV show, play, or other performance to support the mood or emotion.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
5
aláfest
B2
Usage pattern:
to underscore [a scene / the dialogue]
The composer was hired to underscore the final montage.
A zeneszerzőt azért szerződtették, hogy zenével fesse alá a zárómontázst.
They decided not to underscore the opening speech, leaving it completely silent.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy nem festik alá zenével a nyitóbeszédet, hanem teljes csendben hagyják.
A solo cello line underscores the dialogue in the hospital scene.
We need to underscore this moment more strongly to heighten the tension.
The director asked the team to lightly underscore the flashback sequence.
Learner examples
Soft strings underscore the long speech.
Lágy vonósok festik alá a hosszú beszédet.
They will underscore the fight scene with drums.
Dobokkal fogják aláfesteni a harcjelenetet.
The director chose not to underscore this part of the film.
The composer underscored the love scene with piano music.
Music underscores the final shot of the movie.
Meaning
to add background music
Collocations
underscore the dialogue
|underscore a scene
|underscore the action
|musically underscore
|subtly underscore
Synonyms
score (In film context, 'score' can mean to write or add music to a film; 'underscore' focuses on adding music under specific scenes or dialogue.)
Antonyms
strip (In post-production, to 'strip' or remove the music from a scene is the opposite of underscoring it.)
Themes
music
|film
|media
|arts_entertainment
Definition
To put quiet music under a scene or speech in a film, show, or play.
To supply or accompany a scene, speech, or moment in a film, TV show, or play with soft background music.
Grammar
Dictionary form
underscore
IPA
GB/ˌʌndɚskˈɔɹ/
US/ˌʌndɚskˈɔɹ/
Syllables & stress
un - der - score (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (der)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: underscore
- Plural: underscore, underscores
Verb
- Base: underscore
- 3rd Person Singular: underscores
- Present Participle: underscoring
- Past: underscored
Word family
Forms
underscores
noun
underscoring
verb
underscored
verb
Related words
underline
verb A2
Expressions
serve to underscore
1/sˈɚv tə ˌʌndɚskˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
to help emphasize something
To have the effect of making something clearer or more strongly felt.
Examples
- The delays only serve to underscore how poorly the project was managed.
- These stories serve to underscore the risks of ignoring the problem.
- The rising prices serve to underscore the need for better regulation.
underscore the importance of
1/ˌʌndɚskˈɔɹ ðə ɪmpˈɔɹtəns əv/
fixed phrase
formal
stress how important something is
To say or show very clearly that something is very important.
Examples
- These events underscore the importance of strong public health systems.
- The accident underscores the importance of wearing a seat belt.
- Her success underscores the importance of hard work and persistence.
use an underscore
1/jˈuz ən ˌʌndɚskˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
technical
type the _ character
To put the "_" symbol into text, a file name, or a username.
Examples
- If your first choice is taken, try using an underscore in your username.
- Use an underscore instead of a space when naming the file.
- You should use an underscore between your first and last name in the ID.