highlight

One of the best or most enjoyable parts of an experience or event.

• The concert was a highlight.
• Seeing the bears was the highlight of our trip.
• What were the highlights of your weekend?

How to use it: the highlight of something (The boat ride was the highlight of our holiday.)

Similar words: high point, best part

Opposites: low point

Common phrases: highlight of something, the main highlight, a real highlight, career highlight

A lighter or brighter area on a surface, in a picture, or in someone's hair.

• Her hair has golden highlights.
• Add a white highlight to each painted eye.
• The photographer softened the brightest highlights in the image.

Similar words: bright spot, light area

Opposites: shadow

Common phrases: blonde highlight, bright highlight, highlight in something

To make something stand out so that people notice it or understand its importance.

• The report highlights several problems.
• She highlighted the need for better schools.
• These results highlight how much the town has changed.

How to use it: highlight that… (The report highlights that many families still need support.); highlight how… (Her story highlights how difficult moving can be.)

Similar words: emphasize, draw attention to, stress

Opposites: downplay

Common phrases: highlight a problem, highlight the importance, highlight the need

To mark words with a bright colour so they are easier to notice or find again.

• Highlight the new words.
• I highlighted three sentences in yellow.
• Can you highlight the part we need to change?

Similar words: mark

Common phrases: highlight a passage, highlight important words, highlight the text

To give some sections of someone's hair a lighter colour.

• She wants to highlight her hair.
• The stylist highlighted a few strands around my face.
• Have you ever had your hair highlighted?

Common phrases: highlight someone's hair, highlight your hair