When you say something in an emphatic way, you express it with extra force and conviction to make absolutely sure people understand how strongly you feel. An emphatic statement leaves no room for doubt about what you mean.

Imagine your friend asks if you want to go to the water park, and you reply with an emphatic “YES!” Your enthusiasm is unmistakable. Or picture a teacher giving an emphatic warning about not running in the hallway: her tone and body language make it crystal clear she's serious. An emphatic response is the opposite of a wishy-washy or half-hearted one.

When you're emphatic, you're putting special importance on your words through volume, repetition, or intensity. A coach might make an emphatic point by raising her voice and repeating the key instruction. A scientist might be emphatic that his research supports a particular conclusion, meaning he states it with complete confidence.