What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Highlight vs Cliffhanger - What's the difference?

highlight | cliffhanger |

As nouns the difference between highlight and cliffhanger

is that highlight is an area or a spot in a drawing, painting, or photograph that is strongly illuminated while cliffhanger is (narratology) an ending or stopping point calculated to leave a story unresolved, in order to create suspense.

As a verb highlight

is to make prominent; emphasize.

highlight

English

Alternative forms

* hilite (informal)

Noun

(en noun)
  • An area or a spot in a drawing, painting, or photograph that is strongly illuminated.
  • An especially significant or interesting detail or event.
  • (cosmetology) A strand or spot of hair dyed a different color than the rest.
  • Antonyms

    * (especially significant or interesting detail or event) lowlight

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make prominent; emphasize.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=December 21 , author=Helen Pidd , title=Europeans migrate south as continent drifts deeper into crisis , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=The Guardian has spoken to dozens of Europeans who have left, or are planning to leave. Their stories highlight surprising new migration routes – from Lisbon to Luanda, Dublin to Perth, Barcelona to Buenos Aires – as well as more traditional migration patterns.}}
  • To be a highlight of.
  • To mark (important passages of text) with a usually fluorescent marker as a means of memory retention or for later reference.
  • To dye (part of the hair) a different color than the rest.
  • cliffhanger

    English

    Alternative forms

    * cliff hanger, cliff-hanger

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (narratology) An ending or stopping point calculated to leave a story unresolved, in order to create suspense.
  • * 2007 , Hilary Hylton, " Filming Texas in a Good Light," Time , 2 Jul.:
  • Back in the early 80s, the hit series Dallas kept the nation guessing with its season-ending cliffhanger "Who Shot J.R.?"
  • (by extension) An outcome which is awaited with keen anticipation, especially one which is delayed for a period of time or which is not known until the last minute.
  • * 2008 , Timothy Garton Ash, " Russia has run rings round the west," Guardian (UK), 28 Feb. (retrieved 2 Feb. 2009):
  • This presidential election is such a cliffhanger . Will it be the rising star Dmitry "Obamovich" Medvedev? Or the veteran Gennady "McCainovich" Zyuganov?

    Derived terms

    * cliffhang