punctuate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
punctuates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
punctuated,
past participle, past
-
punctuating
present participle
-
to mark or divide (something written) with punctuation marks in order to make the meaning clear.
-
to interrupt at intervals.
Cheers punctuated the mayor's speech.
-
to give emphasis or force to; emphasize; underline.
verb (used without object)
-
punctuates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
punctuated,
past participle, past
-
punctuating
present participle
verb
-
(also intr) to insert punctuation marks into (a written text)
-
to interrupt or insert at frequent intervals
a meeting punctuated by heckling
-
to give emphasis to
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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punctuatornoun
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repunctuateverb (used with object)
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nonpunctuatingadjective
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unpunctuatedadjective
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unpunctuatingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
punctuatesimple
-
punctuatessimple
-
have punctuatedperfect
-
has punctuatedperfect
-
am punctuatingprogressive
-
are punctuatingprogressive
-
is punctuatingprogressive
-
have been punctuatingperfect progressive
-
has been punctuatingperfect progressive
Past
-
punctuatedsimple
-
had punctuatedperfect
-
was punctuatingprogressive
-
were punctuatingprogressive
-
had been punctuatingperfect progressive
Future
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.
See Examples For:
The chapters are compact, the writing is brisk and direct, and momentous events—from the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 to the Allied firebombing of Tokyo during World War II—regularly punctuate the storytelling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Inoue seized the opportunity to put his foot down and attacked with combinations in the final two rounds to punctuate another memorable victory.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
While not exactly winding down its tenseness, “Omaha” exits with some explanatory text about the origins of its narrative that will punctuate your sadness with shocks.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
The earnings punctuate one of the more impressive advances for the market since the Covid pandemic.
From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026
Anya yelled, leaning over the railing to punctuate her words.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
He routinely punctuates his public speeches with historical anecdotes and oddities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026
That Garbus shuffles late-night bits into the action punctuates the blur of corporate interests and celebrity that the Murdochs represent.
From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2026
An unexpected board drama at Denmark’s Novo Nordisk punctuates an already tumultuous year in which the maker of the blockbusters Ozempic and Wegovy plans to slash 9,000 workers globally.
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2025
Once more, it was a realpolitik that punctuates the Portuguese's career - and would sit well with the realism of Hardy.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2025
“Man, I love this guy,” says Dylan, and he punctuates it with a squeeze.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
"We will turn the war into a data platform," he said after being appointed in a speech punctuated with jokes.
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
But cliffs tend to crumble slowly over time, punctuated with a sudden collapse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
And sure enough, his inflammatory words have punctuated the carefully crafted image of unity at this crucial gathering.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
The episode punctuated how reflexively we latch onto the idea of weakness as the primary outgrowth of racial injustice.
From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2026
This main wall, some twenty-four feet high, is punctuated by twenty-one distinctive wall towers but is otherwise as blank as a cop’s face.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
He has said that Trump has admiringly called him a "tough cookie" in private conversations, punctuating the point with a serviceable impersonation of the president.
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
A Chinese military court issued suspended death sentences to two former defense ministers for corruption, punctuating a broad purge of China’s armed forces that has ousted most of the high command.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
Even Marin’s incessant flippancy and Chong’s “maaan”s punctuating every other sentence become enjoyable the more time one spends with them.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2026
Chances are you’ve seen Snoopy dressed as Doggy Pawsbourne on your Instagram or TikTok feed, complete with Ozzy’s signature round sunglasses, long hair and trench coat, punctuating the Prince of Barkness’ “Crazy Train” entrance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
They raised their hands to him and watched Diego disappear into the crowd beyond the line of cops, protest signs still raised, joining voices still punctuating the early evening air.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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.
