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.
Although not quite as windy as it was on Thursday, the blustery wind will accentuate the chilly feel and the winds will be particularly squally around the showers.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
He filmed the process for TikTok, giggling at his flubs and using his hands to accentuate the rhythmic cadence of the language.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026
But there are plenty of positives to accentuate as the calendar turns.
From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026
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
Furthermore, since perceptions tend to become realities, the natural tendency of the mass media to accentuate the anomalous, combined with an innumerate society’s taste for such extremes, could conceivably have quite dire consequences.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
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.
