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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
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
The original plasterwork and wooden ceiling beams were kept intact, with new materials such as oak flooring, stone sinks, and copper faucets added to accentuate the home’s history.
—Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025
Inside, the brand’s iconic satin Aetherna finish creates a play of light and shadow, On the outside, a polished gold edge accentuates the three-dimensionality of the shapes, which embrace a luminous diamond.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Silica plus skin-care ingredients like squalane and sodium hyaluronate mean the featherlight powder melts into the skin without accentuating pores and fine lines.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 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 29 Sep. 2025.
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accentuate
verb
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