What does emphasising mean?
'Emphasising' is the present participle of the verb 'to emphasise', the standard British English spelling (American English uses 'emphasizing'). To emphasise something is to give it special weight, importance, or attention — whether by repeating a point in an argument, stressing certain words when speaking, or drawing attention to a particular detail in writing. The word carries a neutral, often formal register and appears frequently in journalism, academia, and official statements, as in phrases like 'emphasising the need for reform' or 'emphasising the importance of safety'. Its root lies in the Greek 'emphainein', meaning 'to show' or 'indicate', which also gave us 'emphasis' and 'emphatic'. Related derivatives include 'emphasis', 'emphatic', and 'emphatically', all sharing this core idea of making something stand out through deliberate stress.
Present participle of 'emphasise'; to give special importance or stress to something.
"The coach spent the whole session emphasising discipline over talent."
British spelling; American English prefers 'emphasizing'.
Gerund use referring to the act or practice of giving special attention or stress to something.
"His constant emphasising of minor details began to irritate the team."
Less common than the verbal use; usually rephrased as 'the emphasis he placed on...'.
Every time you write 'emphasising', you're using a word that traces back to the ancient Greek 'emphainein' — literally 'to show within'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of emphasising
'Emphasising' derives from the verb 'emphasise', which entered English in the late 18th century from the noun 'emphasis'. That noun came via Latin from Greek 'emphasis', meaning 'significance' or 'indirect expression', formed from 'em-' ('in') plus 'phainein' ('to show'). The same Greek root produced 'emphatic', 'phase', 'diaphanous', and other words concerned with showing or appearing.
Related word forms
How emphasising is actually used
This is the standard British English form; American English uses 'emphasizing'. In formal writing it often appears in constructions like 'emphasising the need for...' to introduce key points.
Easily confused with emphasising
'Emphasising' is simply the British English spelling, while 'emphasizing' with a 'z' is the American English spelling of the same word.