UHN-dur-leyend
/ˈʌndɚˌlaɪnd/
underlined is pronounced UHN-dur-leyend (/ˈʌndɚˌlaɪnd/). Underlined means having a line drawn under text or a symbol to indicate emphasis, importance, or a hyperlink. In writing, it describes the act of placing an underline beneath words; in typography and editing, it marks emphasis or section titles. It can also describe the appearance of text that is visually underlined. The term combines the prefix under- with line, signaling a line beneath the material.
Underlined means having a line drawn under text or a symbol to indicate emphasis, importance, or a hyperlink. In writing, it describes the act of placing an underline beneath words; in typography and editing, it marks emphasis or section titles. It can also describe the appearance of text that is visually underlined. The term combines the prefix under- with line, signaling a line beneath the material.
"Please note the underlined words in the contract."
"In handwriting, I underlined the key points to highlight them."
"The hyperlink is underlined to indicate its clickability."
You pronounce it as un-der-lahynd with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌʌn.dɚˈlaɪnd/ in US English. The syllables break as un- (unstressed) + der (schwa+r coloring) + lined (monophthong /aɪnd/). The final syllable contains the long I sound /aɪ/ and the nasal /n/; the r-coloring depends on accent. Focus on the glide into /ˈlaɪnd/ after a mild syllabic break. Listen for the contrast between /ˈlaɪnd/ and the non-rhotic environments where /ɹ/ is less pronounced.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (putting primary stress on ‘un-’ or ‘der-’), pronouncing /ɚ/ as a full schwa in the middle, or running the final /aɪnd/ as /aɪn d/ with a separate /d/. Another frequent issue is reducing /ˌʌn.dɚ/ to /ˈəndə/ or omitting the internal r-coloring in some US speakers. Correction: keep secondary stress on the second syllable, articulate the rhotic consonant clearly in US and some UK speakers, and glide smoothly into /laɪnd/ without breaking into stops.
In US English, you’ll hear rhotic /ɹ/ in /ɚ/ and a clear /ɹ/; stress pattern is secondary on the middle syllable and primary on the last. UK English tends to be non-rhotic with less color on the /ɹ/ and a slightly shorter middle vowel; AU English is rhotic but often with a flatter /ɒ/? or /ɔː/ depending on region, and vowels can be drawn-out a touch. In all, the /laɪnd/ portion remains the strongest cue, but US tends to keep the r-coloring stronger than UK/AU unless linked to a following vowel.
The challenge lies in the three-syllable rhythm with a cluster of vowels and a long final diphthong /aɪ/ plus final /nd/. The middle /ɚ/ can blur to an unstressed, quick schwa, and you must maintain a clear stressed final syllable /laɪnd/. Also, the transition from /ɚ/ to /l/ can be subtle; ensure your tongue relaxes but does not collapse into a vowel before the /l/ and /aɪnd/.
The unique aspect is maintaining a precise final /aɪnd/ with a strong, clean /l/ onset after the schwa-like middle. Unlike many adjectives, the verb-like ending requires a crisp /nd/ with a short pause before the final /aɪnd/ in careful speech. Stay aware of the slight alveolar /d/ release before the /aɪn/ glide and keep the middle /ɚ/ from leaking into /ə/ or /ɹ/.
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Underlined is formed from the combination of the prefix under- (from Old English under, of Germanic origin) and line (from Old English līn, related to Dutch lijn and German Linie). The concept of marking text with a line beneath dates to early typesetting and manuscript practices, where underlining indicated emphasis in the absence of italicization. The term underlined appears in English usage by the late 15th to 16th centuries as printing and handwriting conventions evolved. In the 19th and 20th centuries, type conventions used underlining not just for emphasis but to denote hyperlinks in early computerized text; this usage later declined as italicization and formatting options expanded. Today, underlined remains the primary way to denote emphasis in certain handwriting contexts and is still used in digital environments to convey emphasis when styling options are limited. The grey-area evolution includes its role across editing, typography, and user interface conventions, reflecting a long-standing tradition of signaling importance through a line beneath the text.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "underlined" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "underlined"
-ded sounds
-ned sounds
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