punctuate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to mark or divide (something written) with punctuation marks in order to make the meaning clear.
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to interrupt at intervals.
Cheers punctuated the mayor's speech.
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to give emphasis or force to; emphasize; underline.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(also intr) to insert punctuation marks into (a written text)
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to interrupt or insert at frequent intervals
a meeting punctuated by heckling
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to give emphasis to
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of punctuate
1625–35; < Medieval Latin pūnctuātus (past participle of pūnctuāre to point), derivative of Latin pūnctus a pricking; see punctual
Explanation
Most commonly, punctuate means to insert standard marks (like periods, commas, and exclamation points) into written sentences. You punctuate sentences to give the reader additional information, such as when a sentence ends, whether or not that sentence is a question, and when a series of words might be a list. You can also punctuate, or emphasize, your words by shouting them or making them ALL CAPS. Occasionally, this verb can also mean "interrupt periodically," as when your cat walks back and forth across your keyboard, punctuating your writing with "shjkpl;" and "pohjxz."
Vocabulary lists containing punctuate
Language and Grammar - Introductory
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Refugee
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Common Core Grades 7–8, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Punctuate a traditional Christmas color scheme with bursts of bright white tulips.
From Southern Living • Nov. 19, 2010
Punctuate that with regular announcements about the hunt for al-Qaeda, and he could have coasted to re-election as Father Protector.
From Time Magazine Archive
Punctuate, pungk′tū-āt, v.t. to mark with points: to divide sentences by the usual points or marks: to emphasise.—adv.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various
I know the whole thing from Memmling and his long-nosed saints, to Leech and the Punctuate.
From A Day's Ride A Life's Romance by Lever, Charles James
Date lines: Punctuate date lines as follows: MADISON, Wis., Jan.
From Newspaper Reporting and Correspondence A Manual for Reporters, Correspondents, and Students of Newspaper Writing by Hyde, Grant Milnor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
