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
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
The sound does much of the work in action sequences obscured by blinding snowstorms and flashing emergency lights, punctuated by creative acts of accidental self-harm that save our protagonists from certain death more than once.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Jernigan wore business casual and spoke with understatement, sometimes punctuated by a rueful chuckle.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025
The first came when there was still hope, a 48-yard field goal to punctuate a 13-play, 41-yard drive on their first possession.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
Each up and down motion of my legs was punctuated with a noticeable BANG as my bench slid forward, while longtimers controlled their movements toward a gentle landing.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
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Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Jernigan wore business casual and spoke with understatement, sometimes punctuated by a rueful chuckle.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025
The first came when there was still hope, a 48-yard field goal to punctuate a 13-play, 41-yard drive on their first possession.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
Each up and down motion of my legs was punctuated with a noticeable BANG as my bench slid forward, while longtimers controlled their movements toward a gentle landing.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
Cite this Entry
“Punctuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punctuate. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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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