accentuate

verb

ac·​cen·​tu·​ate ik-ˈsen(t)-shə-ˌwāt How to pronounce accentuate (audio)
ak-
accentuated; accentuating

transitive verb

: to make (something) more prominent or noticeable : accent, emphasize
With her hair in tight curls that accentuate her pale beauty, she seems lit from within.Peter Travers
trying to accentuate the positive aspects of the program
also : intensify
accentuates the feeling of despair
accentuation noun

Did you know?

When you accentuate something you put an “accent,” or emphasis, on it. There’s no need to stress out if you don’t know the word’s history, though; its journey into the English language was very straightforward. It comes from Latin accentus, meaning “accent” (which itself comes in part from cantus, meaning “song”), and since the early 18th century, its meanings haven’t changed much. The word was initially used as a synonym of the verb accent to mean “to pronounce with greater stress or force,” which is a small leap from today’s meaning of “to make something more noticeable; to emphasize.” One excellent way to remember not only how to pronounce accentuate but also its etymological connection to song is the classic (and helpfully titled) tune “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, which has been performed by such luminaries as Dinah Washington, Sam Cooke, and Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

Examples of accentuate in a Sentence

He likes to wear clothes that accentuate his muscular build. let's accentuate the saxophones during this piece by having the sax players stand up
Recent Examples on the Web Gomez wore an intricate silver necklace and a high ponytail with the front pieces pulled out to accentuate the bold look. Chiara Kim, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024 Each speaker is complemented by a natural marble base that is color-matched to accentuate each design. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Deepen the flavor: Also, many bakers add a touch of espresso grounds to really accentuate the chocolate, but this is completely optional and should be countered with a sweet element like more sugar. Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2024 The Glistening, Bronze, and Fairy shades can all be used to accentuate the high planes of the face. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for accentuate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accentuate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin accentuātus, past participle of accentuāre "to accent, stress," derivative of Latin accentus accent entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1719, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of accentuate was circa 1719

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near accentuate

Cite this Entry

“Accentuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accentuate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

accentuate

verb
ac·​cen·​tu·​ate ik-ˈsen-chə-ˌwāt How to pronounce accentuate (audio)
ak-
accentuated; accentuating
1
: to pronounce or mark with an accent
2
: emphasize
the blue shirt accentuates your eyes
accentuation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on accentuate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!