punctuate

American  

[puhngk-choo-eyt] / ˈpʌŋk tʃuˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

punctuated, punctuating

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.

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verb (used without object)

punctuated, punctuating

1. to insert or use marks of punctuation.

punctuate British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• nonpunctuating adjective
• punctuator noun
• repunctuate verb (used with object)
• unpunctuated adjective
• unpunctuating adjective

Etymology

Origin of punctuate

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

Example Sentences

Protest signs punctuated the cries for safer streets: “Hit your brakes, not people,” one said.

From Los Angeles Times

Philadelphia opened the extra session with five straight points and held on for a win punctuated by a Maxey dunk.

From Barron's

It’s obviously being used to punctuate the ending of a chapter with the show coming to a close.

From The Wall Street Journal

Interest in quantum computing, which has the potential to be the next disruptive technology, reached a fever pitch last year, punctuated by headlines about developments in error correction and scaling.

From Barron's

Delta, meanwhile, reports in the wake of what Melius Research analyst Conor Cunningham called a “lost year” for the airlines, punctuated by the government shutdown.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• interrupt
• intersperse
• pepper
• sprinkle
• underline