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Underscore: meaning, definitions and examples

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underscore

 

[ ˈʌndərˌskɔːr ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

computer programming

A character (_) used to connect words or parts of a word.

Synonyms

low line, underline.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
underscore

Use in digital and programming contexts, where it refers to the character _ used in filenames, URLs, and code.

  • The variable name should include an underscore.
  • Save the file as my_document.txt.
underline

Commonly used in writing and text editing to refer to a line drawn under text for emphasis or to indicate a hyperlink.

  • Please underline the main points in your essay.
  • Click the underlined text to visit the website.
low line

Seldom used term for the underscore character in technical and formal discussions or documentation.

  • The low line character is often used in programming.
  • You need a low line between each word for the script to recognize the command.

Examples of usage

  • Variable names in programming languages often use underscores to separate words, like my_variable.
  • In URLs, underscores are commonly used to replace spaces, for example, in file names.
Context #2 | Verb

computer programming

To replace spaces in a text with underscores.

Synonyms

replace, substitute.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
underscore

Mainly used when you want to emphasize something or highlight the importance of a point. It can also refer to a line drawn under a word for emphasis.

  • The report underscores the need for better healthcare
  • To underscore the main ideas, she underlined them in her notebook
replace

Used when one thing takes the place of another. This word is neutral and often used when an item or concept needs to be swapped out.

  • We need to replace the old computer with a new one
  • She replaced the broken vase with a new one she bought
substitute

Used when one thing or person takes the place of another, especially temporarily or as a surrogate. It can imply that the replacement might not be exactly the same.

  • Can you substitute sugar with honey in this recipe? The teacher was sick, so a substitute came in

Examples of usage

  • Before saving the file, make sure to underscore spaces in the file name.
  • Some programming languages automatically underscore spaces in URLs.

Translations

Translations of the word "underscore" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sublinhado

🇮🇳 अंडरस्कोर

🇩🇪 Unterstrich

🇮🇩 garis bawah

🇺🇦 підкреслення

🇵🇱 podkreślenie

🇯🇵 アンダースコア

🇫🇷 souligner

🇪🇸 guion bajo

🇹🇷 alt çizgi

🇰🇷 밑줄

🇸🇦 تسطير

🇨🇿 podtržítko

🇸🇰 podčiarknutie

🇨🇳 下划线

🇸🇮 podčrtaj

🇮🇸 undirstrik

🇰🇿 астынғы сызықша

🇬🇪 ქვედახაზი

🇦🇿 alt xətt

🇲🇽 guion bajo

Etymology

The use of underscore as a character to connect words dates back to the typewriter era when it was used to underline text. In computer programming, the underscore character became popular as a way to represent spaces in variable names and file names, as spaces are not allowed in these contexts. The verb form of underscore, meaning to replace spaces with underscores, emerged from this usage.

See also: scoreboard, scorecard, scoreless, scorer, scores, scoring.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,647, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.