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
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 16 June 2025
The weekly chart of Starbucks really accentuates the cyclical pattern to the price action over the last seven years, with major peaks and valleys usually occurring every 12 to 18 months.
—David Keller, CNBC, 12 June 2025
Carey accentuated the allover shimmering gown with a diamond necklace topped with a large gemstone and rewore her stacks of bracelets from her performance.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 June 2025
Add a belt at the waist to accentuate your shape, or wear it loose for a more casual outfit.
—Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for accentuate
Cite this Entry
“Accentuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accentuate. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
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accentuate
verb
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