de-emphasize

[ dee-em-fuh-sahyz ]
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verb (used with object),de-em·pha·sized, de-em·pha·siz·ing.
  1. to place less emphasis upon; reduce in importance, size, scope, etc.: The university de-emphasized intercollegiate football.

Origin of de-emphasize

1
First recorded in 1935–40; de- + emphasize
  • Also especially British, de-em·pha·sise .

Words Nearby de-emphasize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use de-emphasize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for de-emphasize

de-emphasize

de-emphasise

/ (diːˈɛmfəˌsaɪz) /


verb
  1. (tr) to remove emphasis from

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012