When you accentuate something you put an “accent,” or emphasis, on it. There’s no need to stress out if you don’t know the word’s history, though; its journey into the English language was very straightforward. It comes from Latin accentus, meaning “accent” (which itself comes in part from cantus, meaning “song”), and since the early 18th century, its meanings haven’t changed much. The word was initially used as a synonym of the verb accent to mean “to pronounce with greater stress or force,” which is a small leap from today’s meaning of “to make something more noticeable; to emphasize.” One excellent way to remember not only how to pronounce accentuate but also its etymological connection to song is the classic (and helpfully titled) tune “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, which has been performed by such luminaries as Dinah Washington, Sam Cooke, and Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.
He likes to wear clothes that accentuate his muscular build.
let's accentuate the saxophones during this piece by having the sax players stand up
Recent Examples on the WebThe design details appear at the sides of her waist and at the bust accentuating her figure.—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 29 May 2024 The car created a smoky backdrop that only accentuated the dramatic atmosphere as the newlyweds wrapped their arms around each other in one shot.—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024 Another awful outing from Trevor Rogers on Friday accentuated that.—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 11 May 2024 Its mildly stretchy fabric makes sitting at the office and running errands a surprisingly comfortable experience, and its flattering silhouette accentuates the waist.—Erika Reals, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for accentuate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accentuate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Medieval Latin accentuātus, past participle of accentuāre "to accent, stress," derivative of Latin accentusaccent entry 1
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