noun

emphasis

EM-fuh-sis/ˈemfəsɪs/

Special importance or force given to something.

The spotlight and raised stand give special emphasis to one ceramic bowl.

A display gives one ceramic bowl conspicuously greater importance than its otherwise identical companions through elevation and a focused spotlight.

Etymology

emGreekin

+phaGreekto show

+sisGreekaction or process

The pieces convey something appearing or being shown within an expression. In rhetoric, this meant words suggesting more than they literally said; the stress used to signal that extra meaning developed into emphasis as special force or importance.

In context

arXter2:52

… special emphasis so if you had eight beats to play with you could divide them into two groups of four and put an accent on the beginning of each

How Music Works: Rhythm - Accent & Syncopation

More examples

She repeats the final word for emphasis.
The coach puts more emphasis on teamwork than on winning.
His emphasis on the word 'today' makes the deadline clear.

Forms

emphasis · emphases

emphasize verb — To give special importance or force.

emphatic adjective — Expressing something with strong, clear force.

Similar words

stress: Especially refers to force placed on a spoken syllable.
importance: Names significance itself, rather than special attention given to it.