punctuate

[ puhngk-choo-eyt ]
See synonyms for punctuate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),punc·tu·at·ed, punc·tu·at·ing.
  1. to mark or divide (something written) with punctuation marks in order to make the meaning clear.

  2. to interrupt at intervals: Cheers punctuated the mayor's speech.

  1. to give emphasis or force to; emphasize; underline.

verb (used without object),punc·tu·at·ed, punc·tu·at·ing.
  1. to insert or use marks of punctuation.

Origin of punctuate

1
1625–35; <Medieval Latin pūnctuātus (past participle of pūnctuāre to point), derivative of Latin pūnctus a pricking; see punctual

Other words from punctuate

  • punc·tu·a·tor, noun
  • non·punc·tu·at·ing, adjective
  • re·punc·tu·ate, verb (used with object), re·punc·tu·at·ed, re·punc·tu·at·ing.
  • un·punc·tu·at·ed, adjective
  • un·punc·tu·at·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use punctuate in a sentence

  • And all the while she fought him, she punctuated her blows with words, some abusing him, others in defense of her father.

    The Homesteader | Oscar Micheaux
  • The thud of a bar dropped in place punctuated the evening's experience with a glum finality.

    Valley of the Croen | Lee Tarbell
  • The shouts of teamsters and the crack of whips punctuated the crunch of wheels as our wagons swiftly swung again into stockade.

    The Way of a Man | Emerson Hough
  • He punctuated the blows with sobbing explanations, and promises never to let it happen again.

    Mountain | Clement Wood
  • The printers were not compelled to decipher the peculiarities of anyone's handwriting; Stowe's copy was printed and punctuated.

    Watch Yourself Go By | Al. G. Field

British Dictionary definitions for punctuate

punctuate

/ (ˈpʌŋktjʊˌeɪt) /


verb(mainly tr)
  1. (also intr) to insert punctuation marks into (a written text)

  2. to interrupt or insert at frequent intervals: a meeting punctuated by heckling

  1. to give emphasis to

Origin of punctuate

1
C17: from Medieval Latin punctuāre to prick, from Latin punctum a prick, from pungere to puncture

Derived forms of punctuate

  • punctuator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012