punctuate
verb
punc·tu·ate
ˈpəŋk-chə-ˌwāt 
punctuated; punctuating
1
: to mark or divide (written matter) with punctuation marks
2
: to break into or interrupt at intervals
the steady click of her needles punctuated the silence—
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton3
: to use punctuation marks
Synonyms
Examples of punctuate in a Sentence
Do you know how to punctuate a sentence correctly?
punctuated each and every word of his denial with a pound of his fist on the table
Recent Examples on the Web
Styled with a cropped double-breasted blazer and dress pants, Bad Bunny’s tailored look was punctuated by a gold and black bolo tie slipped underneath his white collared shirt.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
Miami then took the lead for good with a three-run sixth punctuated by an Arraez two-run single.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
For much of the past four decades, this tug of war between wages and inflation has been a near stalemate, punctuated by short bursts of progress when Americans’ real pay went up.
—Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
The turmoil punctuates the former president’s yearslong assault on the judiciary, an antipathy that intensified with his political rise and mounting legal peril.
—William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
When Hernández arrived as a late-offseason addition in January, punctuating the Dodgers’ $1.4 billion of winter spending, the hope was that his new home park would be friendlier to his swing.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Echo Canyon Loop: This route uses the Echo Canyon, Hailstone and Ed Riggs trails for a moderate 3.3-mile journey through spectacular rock formations into a lush cove punctuated by a stuttering little stream that flows seasonally.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Having been largely flattened by the Luftwaffe during World War II, Bodø’s rationalist post-war rebuild is visible in the boxy buildings that line the shores and a skyline punctuated by the angular 1950s cathedral.
—Ben Olsen, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2024
New York City politicians are pushing for revised laws after a crew of squatters punctuated a months-long terror campaign against their neighbors by burning a house to the ground last November.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
Miami then took the lead for good with a three-run sixth punctuated by an Arraez two-run single.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
For much of the past four decades, this tug of war between wages and inflation has been a near stalemate, punctuated by short bursts of progress when Americans’ real pay went up.
—Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024
The turmoil punctuates the former president’s yearslong assault on the judiciary, an antipathy that intensified with his political rise and mounting legal peril.
—William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
When Hernández arrived as a late-offseason addition in January, punctuating the Dodgers’ $1.4 billion of winter spending, the hope was that his new home park would be friendlier to his swing.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Echo Canyon Loop: This route uses the Echo Canyon, Hailstone and Ed Riggs trails for a moderate 3.3-mile journey through spectacular rock formations into a lush cove punctuated by a stuttering little stream that flows seasonally.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Having been largely flattened by the Luftwaffe during World War II, Bodø’s rationalist post-war rebuild is visible in the boxy buildings that line the shores and a skyline punctuated by the angular 1950s cathedral.
—Ben Olsen, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2024
New York City politicians are pushing for revised laws after a crew of squatters punctuated a months-long terror campaign against their neighbors by burning a house to the ground last November.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'punctuate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near punctuate
Cite this Entry
“Punctuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punctuate. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
punctuate
verb
punc·tu·ate
ˈpəŋ(k)-chə-ˌwāt
punctuated; punctuating
1
: to mark or divide with punctuation marks
2
: to interrupt at intervals
a speech punctuated by a harsh cough
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