English Meaning & Definitions
An outstanding, memorable, or most interesting part of an event, experience, or period of time.
- “The surprise fireworks display was definitely the highlight of the festival.”
- “A tour of the historic palace served as the highlight of our trip.”
An area of the lightest tone or brightest illumination in a painting, photograph, or visual composition.
- “The artist used white paint to add delicate highlights to the water's surface.”
- “Adjusting the highlights in photo editing software restored detail to the overexposed sky.”
To emphasize, draw special attention to, or make something prominent.
- “The keynote speaker used compelling data to highlight the urgency of climate action.”
- “The annual report highlights several key achievements in research and development.”
To mark text with a translucent, brightly colored marker or digitally on a screen for easy reference.
- “Be sure to highlight the relevant clauses before submitting the contract for review.”
- “You can highlight the text on your screen and right-click to copy it.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “highlight”.
Formed in the mid-17th century as a compound of 'high' and 'light'. Originally an artistic term referring to the brightest or most illuminated spot in a painting where light falls directly. By the mid-20th century, its meaning broadened metaphorically to denote an outstanding or memorable event, and it evolved into a verb meaning to emphasize or mark text.
Think of shining a bright LIGHT on something from HIGH above so everyone notices it.
Frequently Asked Questions About “highlight”
1. What is the meaning of “highlight” in English?
In English, highlight (noun) is defined as: “An outstanding, memorable, or most interesting part of an event, experience, or period of time.”.
2. How do you use “highlight” in a sentence?
“The surprise fireworks display was definitely the highlight of the festival.”
3. What are English synonyms of “highlight”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “highlight”?
Formed in the mid-17th century as a compound of 'high' and 'light'. Originally an artistic term referring to the brightest or most illuminated spot in a painting where light falls directly. By the mid-20th century, its meaning broadened metaphorically to denote an outstanding or memorable event, and it evolved into a verb meaning to emphasize or mark text.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.