Did you know?
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.
Examples of accentuate in a Sentence
Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
The Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40, priced at $62,700, is the first to be dressed up in the new gold tone, and has been bestowed with an eye-catching spring green aventurine dial to accentuate its hue, complete with a dash of baguette cut diamonds.
—Charlie Boyd, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
His face, always stationed somewhere halfway to hangdog, seems to gain 20 new creases carved deep into his skin, accentuating his mournful eyes and his excruciated, heartbroken smile.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Despite their over-the-top reputations, their contributions are less about adding a boisterous EDM drop and more about accentuating Toki’s strengths.
—E.r. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accentuate
Cite this Entry
“Accentuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accentuate. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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accentuate
verb
