highlight

Pluralhighlights

Formshighlights, highlighting, highlighted

1. 1
   nounfigurativelycountable

   A particularly significant or interesting detail, event, or stretch of time.

   The keynote speech was the highlight of the conference.

   Among the trip's many highlights, the boat tour stood out.

   Similarclimax, centerpiece, peak, attraction, feature

   Oppositelowlight, nadir

   Note

   The figurative leap from the brightest spot in a picture to the brightest moment in a stretch of time. In the singular it usually takes "the … of": the highlight of my trip. In the plural it can mean a digest of the best or most important parts, as in news highlights broadcast every half hour, where nothing is being singled out as a favorite.

2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To make something prominent or draw special attention to it.

   The report highlights the risks of further delay.

   She wanted to highlight the team's achievements in her speech.

   Similaremphasize, stress, underline, underscore, spotlight

   Oppositedownplay, minimize, understate

   Note

   The verb takes the painter's bright spot and applies it to ideas, true to its makeup of high + light: to highlight a point is to light it so it stands out. It is a workhorse of reports and research prose, usually taking an abstract object, as in highlight the fact that… or thus highlighting the importance of…. The past form is highlighted; highlit also occurs but is nonstandard, so avoid it in careful writing.

3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To mark important passages of text, such as with a colored pen or in a word processor, for memory or later reference.

   He highlights every important quote while reading.

   Students often highlight passages they want to review later.

   Similarmark, underline

4. 4
   nouncountable

   A strongly illuminated area or spot in a drawing, painting, or photograph.

   She painted a soft highlight along the curve of the vase.

   The photographer balanced the highlights and shadows in the portrait.

   Similarlight, gleam

   Oppositelowlight

   Note

   A studio word built plainly from high + light, naming where the light lands hardest in an image. Painters and photographers set it against shadow, and its true opposite is lowlight, the darkest passage. Faulkner's Sanctuary (1931) carries it out of the studio: a reflected face "blurred into the highlight," the bright spot swallowing what it shows.

5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To color a section of the hair a different shade from the remaining hair.

   She highlights her hair every few months.

   Many salons highlight hair using foils.

   Similarstreak, lighten

6. 6
   nouncountable

   A strand or section of hair dyed a different color from the rest.

   The new highlights brightened her whole look.

   She asked for a single bold highlight near her bangs.

   Similarstreak

   Oppositelowlight

   Note

   A salon term, and the noun that goes with the hair-dyeing verb: a stylist highlights hair, and the client leaves with highlights. The name, high + light, suggests brightening, but the sense itself asks only for a color different from the rest. A strand can stand out by contrast without being the lightest thing on the head.

7. 7
   verbtransitive

   To be the most significant or memorable part of an event.

   The closing concert highlighted the entire week of festivities.

   Several rare exhibits highlight the museum's new wing.

   Similarcrown, cap, headline, feature

8. 8
   verbtransitive

   To get a user's attention on IRC by mentioning their name, causing the message to appear highlighted on their screen.

   He highlighted the channel operator to report the spam.

   Newcomers often highlight several people at once without realizing it.

   Similarping, mention, tag

   Note

   Chat jargon in which the object is a person, not a passage: you highlight someone by typing their nickname, and their software lights up the line. Frans Pop's complaint of 2006, "you did not highlight me," shows the usual shape, with a personal pronoun as object. Don't confuse it with marking text. Here the highlighting happens on the other person's screen.

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