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
His warnings contrasted starkly with the brief but glorious interludes of culinary fabulism that punctuated our travel down South.
—
Rachel Tepper Paley,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 July 2026
Universal has a theme-park operation second only to Disney, punctuated by last year’s Orlando opening of the recursively names Universal Epic Universe.
—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Fresh-faced and energetic, with salt-and-pepper curls falling over the shoulders of her moss-green sweater and gold jewelry punctuating her gestures, Brock Akil is youthful in a way that defies Hollywood’s ever-more-plasticky imitation of youth.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 June 2026
The ace endured a rocky start punctuated by a hideous 11-run blowup in Minnesota and has now been sidelined with a shoulder injury since April 26.
—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
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Rachel Tepper Paley,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 July 2026
Universal has a theme-park operation second only to Disney, punctuated by last year’s Orlando opening of the recursively names Universal Epic Universe.
—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Fresh-faced and energetic, with salt-and-pepper curls falling over the shoulders of her moss-green sweater and gold jewelry punctuating her gestures, Brock Akil is youthful in a way that defies Hollywood’s ever-more-plasticky imitation of youth.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 June 2026
The ace endured a rocky start punctuated by a hideous 11-run blowup in Minnesota and has now been sidelined with a shoulder injury since April 26.
—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 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 3 Jul. 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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