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
Rosy Alvarez, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025
The big, scrappy group accentuates Brunson’s strengths and covers for his weaknesses.
—Jovan Buha, New York Times, 22 May 2025
De Armas coordinated the dress by accentuating the gold button details, choosing a pair of metallic gold sandal heels for her look.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 15 May 2025
While loose, the skirt accentuated the runway model's physique and had a modest train.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 7 May 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 2 Jun. 2025.
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accentuate
verb
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