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 Irish had the ball first in the third quarter and moved quickly, increasing their edge to 21-13 after Walton punctuated a 78-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. — Kyle Hightower, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2026

For the third-act interrogation scene of Longlegs, the horror-mystery’s occult obsessed serial killer (played by Nicolas Cage in heavy prosthetic makeup) punctuates his free-associative jailhouse ramblings with a stunning act of self-annihilation. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

At the Palazzo Reale, an entire wall is punctuated by Picabia’s loose pencil and watercolor studies of the severe faces of Sevillian women, dark tresses piled high under lace mantillas. — Nicole Kaack, ARTnews.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Flournoy made some tough grabs downfield, and Lamb punctuated the night with two touchdown grabs. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 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