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
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
Add bright colors to accentuate the playful mood of the room.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
Split actions have been accentuated as an early staple of the Adelman regime — reminiscent of his father’s elbow-entry offenses — with the three-time MVP center playing puppet master from the middle of the floor.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission that sends the power to the rear wheels; the exhaust is also custom, made to accentuate that V-8’s roar.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 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 13 Nov. 2025.
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accentuate
verb
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