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
This is a rather grim history of dictatorship, punctuated by violence, yet today South Korea has a functioning democracy under the rule of law.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei had no play on the attempt, which punctuated the second three-goal first half in as many matches for SDFC (4-1-2).
—Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
The Wildest Story in Black Metal: The pioneering Norwegian band Mayhem’s early years were punctuated by headlines about death and church burnings.
—Michael Paulson, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
That Saturday morning, a 7:30 a.m. siren, backed up by blaring apps on my family’s phones and punctuated by our dog’s barks, took us all by surprise.
—Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
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Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei had no play on the attempt, which punctuated the second three-goal first half in as many matches for SDFC (4-1-2).
—Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
The Wildest Story in Black Metal: The pioneering Norwegian band Mayhem’s early years were punctuated by headlines about death and church burnings.
—Michael Paulson, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
That Saturday morning, a 7:30 a.m. siren, backed up by blaring apps on my family’s phones and punctuated by our dog’s barks, took us all by surprise.
—Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 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 15 Apr. 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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