highlight
highlight — noun
1. the most enjoyable, exciting, or important part of an event, trip, performance,
the most enjoyable, exciting, or important part of an event, trip, performance, or period of time.
The highlight of our trip to Japan was seeing Mount Fuji at sunrise.
highlight of + noun phrase (trip/event)
Christopher said the concert highlight was when the band played their first song.
possessive + highlight + be + clause
The museum guide showed us the highlights of ancient Egyptian history in just two hours.
A wedding highlight video should capture the couple's first dance and the speeches.
- low point
the least enjoyable or memorable part of an experience
文法句型
the highlight of + noun
be the highlight
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of + noun phrase' to specify which event or experience is being referred to. Frequently appears in plural form 'highlights' when listing multiple memorable moments.
常見錯誤
2. thin strands of hair that are dyed a paler shade than the person's natural colou
thin strands of hair that are dyed a paler shade than the person's natural colour, done as a beauty treatment.
Sora decided to get blonde highlights for the summer holiday.
get + highlights + (colour) + for + occasion
The salon offers both full colouring and subtle highlight treatments for any hair type.
Folake's new highlights made her hair look much brighter in the sunlight.
Piotr noticed that his hair highlights had faded after weeks in the summer sun.
文法句型
have/get + highlights
blonde/brown/gold + highlights
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form ('highlights') even when referring to a single treatment session. The colour is specified before the word, e.g. 'caramel highlights', 'ash-blonde highlights'.
常見錯誤
3. a lighter patch within a painting, drawing, or photograph that indicates where l
a lighter patch within a painting, drawing, or photograph that indicates where light strikes the surface of the subject.
The painter used white paint to create soft highlights on the surface of the apple.
create/add + highlights + on + object
In this sketch, the highlights show exactly where the morning sunlight hits the glass vase.
Adding white highlights to the eyes can make a portrait look more alive and realistic.
The art teacher showed us how to mix white paint for realistic highlights in watercolour.
- light area
more general and descriptive, less technical than 'highlight'
- bright spot
less specific to painting; can refer to any light point in an image
- shadow
the darker area where light does not fall directly on the subject
文法句型
create/add + highlights
highlights + on + object
用法筆記
Common in art instruction and critique contexts. The plural 'highlights' is typical even when referring to a small set of light areas. Contrasts with 'shadows' or 'dark areas' in discussions of composition.
highlight — verb
1. to make people notice or pay special attention to something important, such as a
to make people notice or pay special attention to something important, such as a problem, fact, or difference.
The recent report highlights the urgent need for better road safety measures.
highlight + need/importance + for + noun
Heloísa ended her speech by highlighting the value of community service in local schools.
This simple graph highlights the difference in sales between the two seasons.
The documentary highlights how small farmers in dry regions struggle to find clean water.
- emphasize
very close in meaning; 'emphasize' slightly more about stress in speaking, 'highlight' about making visually or rhetorically prominent
- point out
more conversational, less formal than 'highlight'
- underscore
more formal; suggests reinforcing an existing point rather than drawing first attention to it
- spotlight
more vivid; suggests giving exclusive or dramatic attention
文法句型
highlight + noun phrase
highlight + that-clause
highlight + wh-clause
用法筆記
Frequently used in academic, journalistic, and professional contexts. Subject is often a report, study, graph, study, or speech. The object is typically an abstract noun (need, importance, problem, difference) or a that-clause.
常見錯誤
2. to mark written text or a computer screen area with a bright colour so that it s
to mark written text or a computer screen area with a bright colour so that it stands out, for emphasis or to select it for an action.
Élise highlighted all the important dates in her textbook with a bright yellow pen.
highlight + object + with + colour/tool
You can highlight text on the screen and then copy it to a new document.
Romi highlighted every word she did not know in the French article.
The teacher asked us to highlight the main idea in each paragraph of the story.
- unhighlight
to remove the highlighting from text
文法句型
highlight + text/document
highlight + in/with + colour
be highlighted + on screen
用法筆記
When referring to physical text, the tool is usually a highlighter pen. On computers, it can mean clicking and dragging across text (for selection) or applying a background colour (for visual marking). In digital contexts, passive form 'is highlighted' is common.
常見錯誤
3. to dye selected strands of hair a paler shade than the natural colour, as a cosm
to dye selected strands of hair a paler shade than the natural colour, as a cosmetic treatment.
Amira asked the hairdresser to highlight her dark brown hair with gold streaks.
ask/tell + person + to highlight + hair + with + colour
Devika highlights her hair twice a year to keep the colour looking fresh.
Eitan's sister went to the salon to have her hair highlighted for the wedding party.
Rafael's cousin trained as a stylist and now highlights hair for friends at home.
文法句型
highlight + hair
have/get + hair + highlighted
highlight + hair + colour
用法筆記
The causative structure 'have/get + hair + highlighted' is very common in salon contexts, as the action is usually done by a professional. When used actively ('She highlights her hair'), it may mean she does it herself at home.