accentuate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to give emphasis or prominence to.
-
to place the stress or emphasis on (a particular syllable or word) when pronouncing it or showing its pronunciation.
verb
Other Word Forms
- accentuation noun
- overaccentuate verb (used with object)
- reaccentuate verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of accentuate
First recorded in 1725–35; from Medieval Latin accentuātus intoned (past participle of accentuāre ); accent, -ate 1
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.
In a fuchsia sweater, flowy cheetah-print skirt, and cobalt-colored glasses that accentuate her blue eyes, Andrews projects a surprising equanimity considering all she’s endured in the last five years.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026
But there are plenty of positives to accentuate as the calendar turns.
From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026
Clearly, Auggie’s story is shaped to accentuate the positive.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025
The kitchen is lit with huge skylights that accentuate the natural wood beams and bring a beautiful bright feeling into the space.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 9, 2025
The dress she wore was a voluminous melange of floral patterns that did much to accentuate the impressive girth of the wearer.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
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.
