Special importance, value, or attention given to something. In speaking or writing, it can mean extra force or stress put on a word or idea.
From Latin 'emphasis,' from Greek 'émphasis' meaning 'appearance, significance,' from 'emphainein' (to show, indicate), from 'en' (in) + 'phainein' (to show). Originally, it was about making something show itself clearly. The sense of stressing words in speech developed naturally from that.
Emphasis is about 'showing in'—making an idea stand out so strongly it pushes into people’s awareness. You can do it with volume, repetition, word choice, or even silence. The word is a reminder that how you say something can be as powerful as what you say.
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