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
Charna Flam, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Accessories, colored extensions, and unique shaves all accentuate the beauty of natural hair to help anyone achieve the best natural hairstyles for curly hair.
—Ashley Alese Edwards, Glamour, 26 Aug. 2025
The complexity of marital assets and streams of income accentuate the need for a prenuptial agreement that not only protects assets and premarital income, but uniquely accounts for how the individuals and their respective brands will continue to work with and rely on each other.
—Morgan Mouchette, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
For their walk, Ronan donned a leopard print button-up midi shirtdress from maternity brand Isabella Oliver, belted under the bust to accentuate her baby bump.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accentuate
Cite this Entry
“Accentuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accentuate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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accentuate
verb
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