accent

1 of 2

noun

ac·​cent ˈak-ˌsent 

 chiefly British  -sənt

1

: an effort in speech to stress one syllable over adjacent syllables

also : the stress thus given a syllable

a word with the accent on the second syllable

2

: a distinctive manner of expression: such as

a

: a way of speaking typical of a particular group of people and especially of the natives or residents of a region

spoke with a Russian accent

b

: an individual's distinctive or characteristic inflection, tone, or choice of words

—usually used in plural

3

: rhythmically significant stress on the syllables of a verse usually at regular intervals

4

a

: a mark (such as ´, `, ˆ) used in writing or printing to indicate a specific sound value, stress, or pitch, to distinguish words otherwise identically spelled, or to indicate that an ordinarily mute vowel should be pronounced

b

: an accented letter

5

music

a

: greater stress given to one musical tone than to its neighbors

b

: accent mark sense 2

6

a

: emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition

b

: an emphasized detail or area

especially : a small detail in sharp contrast with its surroundings

c

: a substance or object used for emphasis

a plant used as a decorative accent

7

: a mark placed to the right of a letter or number and usually slightly above it: such as

a

: a double prime

b

: prime

8

: special concern or attention : emphasis

an accent on youth

9

archaic : utterance entry 1

accentless

ˈak-ˌsent-ləs 

adjective

accent

2 of 2

verb

ac·​cent ˈak-ˌsent 

ak-ˈsent

accented; accenting; accents

transitive verb

1

: to give special attention or prominence to (something)

TV shows that accent youth

: to make (something) more emphatic, noticeable, or distinct

columns that accent the vertical lines of the building

2

a

: to pronounce (part of a word) with greater stress or force : stress

Accent the second syllable of the word "before."

b

: to mark with a written or printed accent

Synonyms

Noun

• accentuation
• emphasis
• stress
• underscoring
• weight

Verb

• accentuate
• emphasize
• feature
• foreground
• highlight
• illuminate
• play up
• point (up)
• press
• punctuate
• stress

Examples of accent in a Sentence

Noun

Regional accents are common in the U.S.

She spoke with an American accent.

The tourist had a foreign accent.

He has a heavy southern accent.

The word “before” has the accent on the last syllable.

Put the accent on the first syllable of the word.

The accents in the French word “émigré” show how the letter “e” should be pronounced.

Verb

the town's promotional literature accents its vital role in American history

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Like a shoddy police procedural with an easily-recognizable bad guy—the unshaven one with the heavy accent—the Christmas story has one villain in particular. —N.t. Wright, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024

Black Panther saw its characters speak Xhosa, a South African language, in such an accent (which, in and of itself, was a battle with the franchise’s studio). —Kui Mwai, Essence, 20 Dec. 2024

Verb

The sleeveless gown included a high slit accented by fringed ties along the side. —Ty Gaskins, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024

The serene space is accomplished through neutral tones accented by pops of bold color and a variety of textures and materials. —Carly Caramanna, Parents, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "modulation of the voice," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "modulation of the voice, prominence in pitch on a given syllable," going back to Old French, borrowed from Latin accentus (loan translation of Greek prosōidía), from ad- ad- + cantus "song," action noun derivative of canere "to sing" — more at chant entry 1, prosody

Note: The word occurs in Old English as accent in the sense "accent mark" in Byrhtferth's Enchiridion, but there is no continuity between this and later uses.

Verb

borrowed from Middle French accenter "to pronounce with greater stress," in part derivative of accent accent entry 1, in part borrowed from Medieval Latin accentāre, variant of accentuāre — more at accentuate

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing accent

• accent mark
• tonic accent

Kids Definition

accent

1 of 2 noun

ac·​cent ˈak-ˌsent 

1

: a way of talking shared by a group (as the people of a country)

2

: greater stress or force given to a syllable of a word in speaking

before has the accent on the last syllable

3

: a mark (as ´, `, or ˆ accents) identifying a syllable that is stressed in speaking

4

: greater stress given to a beat in music

5

: an emphasized detail used for contrast

accent

2 of 2 verb

ac·​cent ak-ˈsent 

ˈak-ˌsent

1

: to make more noticeable : emphasize

2

a

: to say with an accent : stress

b

: to mark with a written or printed accent