underscore

/ˌʌndəˈskɔː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌndɚskˈɔr] /ˌʌndərˈskɔːr/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌndɚskˈɔr] /ˈən-dər-ˌskȯr How to pronounce underscore (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈʌn.də.skɔːr/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌndɚskˈɔr] /ˈʌn.dɚ.skɔːr/ (ame, ipa)

underscore — 動詞

  • underscorepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • underscoreshe / she / it
  • underscoredpast simple
  • underscoring-ing form

1. to draw a straight line beneath a word, sentence, or heading in order to mark it

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

加底線

在文字下方畫線以標示重點

to draw a straight line beneath a word, sentence, or heading in order to mark it as important or to draw attention to it.

例句

Femi underscored each vocabulary word on the study list with a sharp pencil line.

Femi 在單字列表中的每個單字下方用尖鉛筆畫了一條底線。

transitive: underscore + noun phrase

Roya underscored the title of the science chapter with a ruler so the line stayed perfectly straight.

Roya 用尺在科學章節的標題下方畫了一條筆直的底線。

instrumental: underscore with a ruler for precision

同義詞
  • underline

    more common in digital contexts; 'underscore' is slightly more formal for the physical action

文法句型

underscore + noun phrase

用法筆記

This sense is most common in handwriting and paper editing contexts. In digital word processors, 'underline' is the more frequent term for the same action.

常見錯誤

❌She underscored the text in the Word document.
✅She underlined the text in the Word document.
💡In computer software, 'underline' is the standard term for the formatting feature.

2. to make something seem more important or clearly true, especially when the evide

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

強調；凸顯

清楚顯示某事的重要或真實性

to make something seem more important or clearly true, especially when the evidence for it comes from events or situations rather than from words.

例句

The accident at the factory underscored the need for better safety training.

工廠發生的意外凸顯了加強安全訓練的必要性。

underscore + noun phrase: the need for something

Kasia's promotion underscored just how much her team had achieved that year.

Kasia 的升遷充分說明了她的團隊在那一年有多大的成就。

underscore + how-clause

同義詞
  • emphasize

    more common for deliberate human actions; 'underscore' often implies that the evidence speaks for itself

  • highlight

    less formal; can be used for either people or situations

  • stress

    stronger sense of insistence; works well for personal opinions

反義詞
  • downplay

    to make something seem less important

  • understate

    to describe something as less significant than it is

文法句型

underscore + noun phrase

underscore + that-clause

用法筆記

Subject is usually an event, fact, situation, or result — not a person acting deliberately. When a person actively stresses something, 'emphasize' or 'stress' is more natural.

常見錯誤

❌The manager underscored the deadline in the meeting.
✅The manager emphasized the deadline in the meeting.
💡'Underscore' works best when the situation itself reveals importance, not when a person deliberately highlights something.

underscore — 名詞