German word

unterstreichen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˌʊntɐˈʃtraɪ̯çən/

Meaning

  • verbunderline

Example

Bitte unterstreiche die wichtigsten Stellen im Text.

Please underline the most important passages in the text.

Illustration for unterstreichen (underline)

More examples

Um die Kernaussage zu unterstreichen, wiederholte sie das Ergebnis am Ende.

To emphasize the main point, she repeated the result at the end.

Core concept

A pen traces below selected words as a visual signal, while figurative use reinforces the importance of a fact.

Common phrases

  • etwas deutlich unterstreichen

    clearly emphasize ___

  • seine Aussage unterstreichen

    emphasize one's statement

Similar words

betonen: Give special force to words or feelings through spoken delivery.
hervorheben: Make parts of a text or diagram more noticeable through color or visual design.
markieren: Put a visible mark on a particular place or passage for easy identification.

Definition in German

Mit einem Strich unter einem Wort oder einer Stelle im Text zeigen, dass diese wichtig oder hervorhebenswert ist.

Word origin

The verb was formed from German unter- ('under') and streichen ('draw or stroke'), referring first to drawing a line under text and then to stressing something figuratively.

Usage tips

  • For spoken emphasis, betonen is usually the appropriate verb, while unterstreichen commonly refers to written or figurative emphasis.

Other meanings

  • emphasizeverb
  • highlightverb

Opposites

  • bagatellisierendownplayverb

Related words

  • Unterstreichungunderliningnoun

Word lists with this word