punctuate

verb

punc·​tu·​ate ˈpəŋk-chə-ˌwāt 

punctuated; punctuating

transitive verb

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

3

: accentuate, emphasize

intransitive verb

: to use punctuation marks

punctuator

ˈpəŋk-chə-ˌwā-tər 

noun

Synonyms of punctuate

• emphasize
• highlight
• stress
• feature

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

The explosions provide different interruptions, punctuating the moment as one of Keeley’s ideas plays out in real time. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

Back at Camp Cranium, bursts of laughter, whoops of delight and distant chatter punctuated the humid summer air. — Lydia McFarlane, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026

Swim, canoe, geocache, and bird-watch among Bastrop State Park’s mosaic of pines, oaks, shrubs, and grasslands, which are punctuated by a carpet of bluebonnets each spring. — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

By then Arsenal were cruising, thanks to an hour of crisp passing and progressive possession punctuated by goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Odegaard. — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin punctuatus, past participle of punctuare to point, provide with punctuation marks, from Latin punctus point

First Known Use

circa 1766, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for punctuate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids 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