Definition

1. Noun:

   • An area of lightness in a picture: A bright or light area in a painting, photograph, or other visual representation.
   • The most interesting or memorable part: The best, most important, or most exciting part of an event or period of time.

2. Verb:

   • To apply a highlighter: To use a cosmetic product to make certain facial features, like cheeks or eyebrows, appear brighter or more prominent.
   • To emphasize or make prominent: To draw special attention to something, making it stand out from its surroundings or context.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The artist added a small highlight to the apple to make it look shiny.
  • Winning the championship was the highlight of her athletic career.

• Verb:

  • She used a brush to highlight her cheekbones.
  • The report will highlight the key findings of the research.

Advanced Usage

• "to be the highlight of": to be the best part of an experience.

  • Seeing the sunrise from the mountain top was the highlight of the trip.

• "to highlight the importance of": to stress or underscore the significance of something.

  • The speaker highlighted the importance of early childhood education.

Variants and Related Words

• Highlighter (n): A pen with transparent, bright ink for marking text, or a cosmetic product for the face.

  • She used a yellow highlighter to mark important passages in the book.

• Highlighted (adj): Made visually brighter or given special emphasis.

  • The highlighted text on the screen indicated a required field.

Synonyms

• Noun: Peak, climax, high point, focal point.
• Verb: Emphasize, underscore, accent, spotlight, foreground.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• "Highlight something as something": To present or describe something in a way that emphasizes a particular quality.
  • The study highlights this problem as a major concern for public health.

Related Idioms

• "To steal the highlight": (A variation of "to steal the spotlight/show") To attract the most attention and praise, often away from someone else.
  • The young rookie stole the highlight with his incredible performance.

Noun

1. an area of lightness in a picture
2. the most interesting or memorable part
   • the highlight of the tour was our visit to the Vatican

Verb

1. apply a highlighter to one's cheeks or eyebrows in order to make them more prominent
   • highlight the area above your eyebrows
2. move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent
   • The introduction highlighted the speaker's distinguished career in linguistics