punctuate

1 of 2

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

punctuator

2 of 2

noun

punc·​tu·​a·​tor -tə(r) 

plural -s

: one that punctuates

Synonyms of punctuate

Verb

• emphasize
• highlight
• stress
• feature

Examples of punctuate in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

To be sure, market leadership has been remarkably narrow — punctuated by outperformance in some big tech names, including the biggest of them all, Nvidia , which also set an all-time intraday high Friday. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026

That’s because the Dolphins face one of the better wide receiver corps Sunday in the Minnesota Vikings, a unit punctuated by one of the best at the position in Justin Jefferson. — Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026

Big emotional moments are punctuated by striking shots of fiery, mountainside sunsets and comforting, homestead greenery. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026

The Dodgers’ back-to-back World Series championships each have been punctuated by the Freddie Freeman Signature Moment. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Medieval Latin punctuatus, past participle of punctuare to point, provide with punctuation marks, from Latin punctus point

Noun

punctuate + -or

First Known Use

Verb

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