punctuate
verb
punc·tu·ate
ˈpəŋk-chə-ˌwāt 
punctuated; punctuating
1
: to mark or divide (written matter) with punctuation marks
2
: to break into or interrupt at intervals
the steady click of her needles punctuated the silence—
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton3
: to use punctuation marks
Synonyms
Examples of punctuate in a Sentence
Do you know how to punctuate a sentence correctly?
punctuated each and every word of his denial with a pound of his fist on the table
Recent Examples on the Web
France wins in dramatic fashion Elsewhere on a night of Nations League fixtures, France edged past Belgium 2-1 in a match punctuated by a number of incidents.
—Ben Church, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024
Her run—punctuated by two flawless backflips, several huge drops, and steep, technical riding—set the tone.
—Abigail Barronian, Outside Online, 14 Oct. 2024
Travelers like these could learn to structure future trips with set plans punctuated by gaps of free time.
—Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2024
At the time, the House of Tomorrow was synonymous with the glittering lifestyle of the decade, where scores of partygoers could revel comfortably in a living room punctuated by a rock wall and a backyard beckoning with a large pool.
—Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punctuate 
Ben Church, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024
Her run—punctuated by two flawless backflips, several huge drops, and steep, technical riding—set the tone.
—Abigail Barronian, Outside Online, 14 Oct. 2024
Travelers like these could learn to structure future trips with set plans punctuated by gaps of free time.
—Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2024
At the time, the House of Tomorrow was synonymous with the glittering lifestyle of the decade, where scores of partygoers could revel comfortably in a living room punctuated by a rock wall and a backyard beckoning with a large pool.
—Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punctuate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'punctuate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Punctuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punctuate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
punctuate
verb
punc·tu·ate
ˈpəŋ(k)-chə-ˌwāt
punctuated; punctuating
1
: to mark or divide with punctuation marks
2
: to interrupt at intervals
a speech punctuated by a harsh cough
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