noun
highlight
HEYE-lyt
noun
1
The most memorable or exciting part of an event, experience, or period.
"Meeting the author in person was the highlight of the trip."
2
A bright area in a picture, photo, or painting where light falls most strongly.
"The photographer adjusted the exposure to soften the highlights on her face."
3
A strand of hair dyed a lighter colour than the rest.
"She added blonde highlights before the summer."
verb
1
To draw special attention to something.
"The report highlights several safety concerns."
"He highlighted the key phrases in yellow marker."
How to Use Highlight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe best or most attention-grabbing part of something, or (as a verb) to draw attention to it.
Common pairings
highlight of the year
highlight in yellow
game highlights
Word Forms
highlighted past tense, highlit past tense, highlights plural, highlights singular
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Meeting the author in person was the _____ of the trip.
Etymology
A compound of high and light, describing the brightest ("highest") points of light in an image before the word broadened to mean any standout moment or detail.