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 contest was the second of two exhibition matches the USA Eagles put on in Charlotte — the first was a 38-17 dismantling of Belgium last weekend — and punctuated a two-match spree in which 9,678 fans flowed through the midtown venue.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2025
When the crowd wasn’t baying in support, an astonishing silence fell on Court 1, punctuated by the smallest sounds: a ball being bounced on the turf at the far end of the seventy-eight-foot court; birdsong; a door closing somewhere far away.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
The night was punctuated with the chilling whine of approaching drones that slammed into residential areas, exploded and sent balls of orange flames into the dark during the 10-hour barrage.
—arkansasonline.com, 11 July 2025
Human lie-detector test Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) is an accidental menace to herself and others, and the second season of Poker Face is punctuated by one tragedy after another for Charlie.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2025
When the crowd wasn’t baying in support, an astonishing silence fell on Court 1, punctuated by the smallest sounds: a ball being bounced on the turf at the far end of the seventy-eight-foot court; birdsong; a door closing somewhere far away.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
The night was punctuated with the chilling whine of approaching drones that slammed into residential areas, exploded and sent balls of orange flames into the dark during the 10-hour barrage.
—arkansasonline.com, 11 July 2025
Human lie-detector test Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) is an accidental menace to herself and others, and the second season of Poker Face is punctuated by one tragedy after another for Charlie.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
Cite this Entry
“Punctuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punctuate. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share