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

Yet Sorry, Baby doesn’t elide Agnes’s trauma, either; it is punctuated with moments—from Agnes answering a jury duty summons to a third-act revelation that begets a panic attack—to indicate, in no uncertain terms, that she’s been affected on a cellular level. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025

It’s punctuated with radical musical numbers and dance sequences, not quite seen before on the big screen. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025

Use bright colors and strong patterns to punctuate an otherwise neutral space. —Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025

The closing scene, in which the four embrace as fireworks go off, punctuates all of this onscreen thinking with external action to match. —Niela Orr, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

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

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

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