punctuate
verb
punc·tu·ate
ˈpəŋk-chə-ˌwāt 
punctuated; punctuating
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
Edith Wharton3
: to use punctuation marks
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 quintessentially cool designer, synonymous with a palette of khaki, black, and gray (occasionally punctuated by a flash of bold red) seems an unlikely candidate for pastel play.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 7 May 2026
The socialist organization has been ascending since Bernie Sanders’s failed 2016 presidential run (Sanders is a lowercase d and s democratic socialist, not a member of the DSA)—an ascent that was punctuated by actual DSA member Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral win last year.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026
But no one more than Witt, who punctuated his presence with them in an entirely new way.
—Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
The refined contemporary interiors are punctuated throughout with terrazzo floors, warm wood paneling, and rough-hewn stone pillars.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
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Christina Holevas, Vogue, 7 May 2026
The socialist organization has been ascending since Bernie Sanders’s failed 2016 presidential run (Sanders is a lowercase d and s democratic socialist, not a member of the DSA)—an ascent that was punctuated by actual DSA member Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral win last year.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026
But no one more than Witt, who punctuated his presence with them in an entirely new way.
—Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
The refined contemporary interiors are punctuated throughout with terrazzo floors, warm wood paneling, and rough-hewn stone pillars.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
Cite this Entry
“Punctuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punctuate. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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