accentuate

verb

ac·​cen·​tu·​ate ik-ˈsen(t)-shə-ˌwāt 

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

ik-ˌsen(t)-shə-ˈwā-shən 

(ˌ)ak-

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.

Synonyms

• accent
• emphasize
• feature
• foreground
• highlight
• illuminate
• play up
• point (up)
• press
• punctuate
• stress

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

Kim donned a red leather dress, which had green stitching to accentuate the dress at its center. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Its styling nods to iconic Italian bombshells like Sophia Loren and Monica Bellucci, with bralettes, chemises, nightgowns, robes, and underwear that cling to your curves and accentuate the waist and bust. —Malia Griggs, Glamour, 20 Dec. 2024

This is because a button nose, described as a small, rounded nose, accentuates the shape of the bulbous tip. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 17 Dec. 2024

But the #3 is longer and the rear more sloped, further accentuated by how the window line swoops towards the back. —James Morris, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024

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

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Kids Definition

accentuate

verb

ac·​cen·​tu·​ate ik-ˈsen-chə-ˌwāt 

ak-

accentuated; accentuating

1

: to pronounce or mark with an accent

2

: emphasize

the blue shirt accentuates your eyes

accentuation

ik-ˌsen-chə-ˈwā-shən 

(ˌ)ak-

noun