punctuate

[ puhngk-choo-eyt ]

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.

3. 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.

punctuate

/ ˈpʌŋktjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. also intr to insert punctuation marks into (a written text)
2. to interrupt or insert at frequent intervals

   a meeting punctuated by heckling

3. to give emphasis to

Derived Forms

• ˈpunctuˌator, noun

Other Words From

• punctu·ator noun
• non·punctu·ating adjective
• re·punctu·ate verb (used with object) repunctuated repunctuating
• un·punctu·ated adjective
• un·punctu·ating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of punctuate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of punctuate¹

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

Example Sentences

New Jersey’s largest city started to lose much of its population and economic base in the 1960s, punctuated by riots that broke out in 1967.

From ProPublica

The Ravens punctuated a late touchdown with an “Easy money!”

From Washington Post

The series, which begins streaming Friday, is punctuated with musical triumphs as the band tours the country and Mexico.

From Washington Post

Compressions and expansions of space punctuate your emotions.

From Washington Post

Gonzalez’s testimony on the bill was punctuated with phrases like “it’s been difficult,” “we still have a lot of work to do” when describing the effort to refine the original law.

From Voice of San Diego

At each point, the audience was eager to punctuate his rhetoric with cheers and applause.

From The Daily Beast

These manic episodes, however, only punctuate a life that is most fundamentally pathetic.

From The Daily Beast

It was an almost schizophrenic existence, and a few bizarre remnants of this doublethink still punctuate my life here.

From The Daily Beast

He even went so far as to punctuate the scoop with an exclamation point!

From The Daily Beast

To punctuate her observation Jessie Norwood lifted the iron latch and jerked open the door.

From Project Gutenberg

Be careful, then, to punctuate properly, that you may convey to the reader the exact sense of what is in your mind.

From Project Gutenberg

He banged the table with his riding-crop to punctuate the emphasis.

From Project Gutenberg

A little constraint—a natural blush to punctuate their talk—the meeting seemed conventional enough.

From Project Gutenberg

I must know the laws of rhythm and meter to be able to punctuate musical phrases and periods.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• interrupt
• intersperse
• pepper
• sprinkle
• underline