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

The psychedelic sequence that follows, punctuated by three European henchmen tailing the girls in a black SUV, is funny enough. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026

Meals are punctuated by the heavy thwack of Soto’s butcher knife chopping the meats against a large block of Sinaloan alamo wood, while music and TVs complete the din. — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026

The stops are punctuated by excerpts from Peter Bogdanovich’s 1971 The Last Picture Show and as reflections on past and present hardships facing the film exhibition industry. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

That pick punctuated the best defensive practice of the summer for the Patriots defense, which has struggled to consistently pressure Maye and disrupt his passing game. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026

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

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

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