Emphasis is special importance or attention given to something. When a teacher speaks with emphasis on certain words, she might say them louder or slower to make sure students notice them. When you underline or highlight text, you're adding emphasis to show those parts matter most.

You can emphasize something by repeating it, changing your voice, or making it stand out. A coach might place emphasis on teamwork during practice, meaning he focuses on it more than other skills. An artist might use bright colors to create emphasis in one part of a painting, drawing your eye to that spot first.

You can hear emphasis in how people talk: “I said you could have one cookie” puts stress on the word “one” to make the limit crystal clear. Writers use italics, bold text, or repetition for emphasis. Scientists doing research might emphasize their most important findings in the conclusion.

The noun form is emphasis, the verb form is emphasize, and the adjective is emphatic. If someone makes an emphatic statement, they're saying it with force and conviction, leaving no doubt about what they mean.