Highlighted

ˈhaɪˌlaɪtɪd

verb (past participle)Beginner🔥Very CommonLiterature
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To make something more noticeable or important, often by marking or emphasizing it.

ˈhaɪˌlaɪtɪd

verb (past participle)neutralBeginner
Literature

To emphasize or draw attention to something.

The key points of the presentation were highlighted with bullet points.

💡 Simply: When you 'highlighted' something, you made it stand out, like when you underline the most important words in a book or put them in bold. It's like saying, 'Look at this! This is important!' For example, in a presentation, you might highlight the key benefits of your product.

👶 For kids: To make something stand out, like coloring it with a bright color so you remember it.

More Examples

2

The errors in the document were highlighted in red for easy correction.

3

She highlighted the positive aspects of the project in her report.

How It's Used

Journalism

"The journalist highlighted the key findings of the report."

Education

"The teacher highlighted important vocabulary words on the board."

2

Being emphasized or made more prominent; characterized by highlighted features or elements.

ˈhaɪˌlaɪtɪd

adjectiveneutralmedium
Technology

Made to stand out or be more noticeable.

The highlighted text was easy to read.

💡 Simply: If something is 'highlighted,' it means it's been made to stand out or get noticed. For example, the most important part of a web page, or the best points on an essay, is highlighted.

👶 For kids: When something is brighter or stands out so you can see it better.

More Examples

2

The artist used highlighted colors to draw attention to certain areas of the painting.

3

The highlighted areas of the map showed the regions of greatest interest.

How It's Used

Photography

"The highlighted areas of the photograph showed the brightest points of light."

Design

"The highlighted features of the new website design improved user experience."

Tip:Think of a product or feature that's been intentionally made more noticeable or prominent for marketing purposes.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

highlight reel

A selection of the most exciting or important parts of an event, especially a sporting event.

"The sports channel showed the highlight reel after the game."

highlighting the importance of

Emphasizing the significance of a particular topic or subject.

"The teacher spent the whole lesson highlighting the importance of the historical period."

From 'high' and 'light', reflecting the act of making something more noticeable or prominent. The verb 'highlight' emerged in the late 19th century, initially used in a literal sense of intensifying light, and later metaphorically.

The word initially appeared with the literal meaning of making something brighter or more luminous. The figurative use to mean emphasizing a specific part came later, and the term gained widespread acceptance during the 20th century.

Memory tip

Imagine a spotlight (high light) shining on a specific point or area; this is what 'highlighted' does.

Word Origin

LanguageEnglish
Original meaning

"high + light (making something bright or important)"

highlight a pointhighlight the importancehighlight key featureshighlight areashighlight differences

Common misspellings

hightlightedhilightedhighlited

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written