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

• 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 low-maintenance turf is punctuated with spikey and flowering plantings that add dimension and character, French drains redirect water away from the foundation, and for all the green thumbs, a side yard holds citrus, fig, and crab apple trees. —Mark David, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2025

At Lollapalooza, the drummer refused to wear anything but cowboy boots, and Gibby punctuated his onstage patter with blasts from a shotgun. —Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025

His fellows punctuate this with a smart rap of their knobkerries on the lids of rubbish bins. —Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025

His ceiling is so high that great things are possible, but his development on the ATP Tour has been punctuated by early defeats. —Lukas Weese, New York Times, 25 Aug. 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