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
Monday’s slide punctuated a rocky couple of weeks for Wall Street.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The collaboration is more than just looks, though: After all, it’s still punctuated by the very same attention to detail that LoveShackFancy prides itself in.
—Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 27 Feb. 2025
She was dressed in all black and her outstretched arms were punctuated by a red manicure.
—Kim Córdova, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
The filmmakers punctuate all of this excitement with doses of Perry’s reality, and don’t allow the dizzying highs of being young and famous to overtake the context of Perry’s tumultuous inner life.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025
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Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The collaboration is more than just looks, though: After all, it’s still punctuated by the very same attention to detail that LoveShackFancy prides itself in.
—Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 27 Feb. 2025
She was dressed in all black and her outstretched arms were punctuated by a red manicure.
—Kim Córdova, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
The filmmakers punctuate all of this excitement with doses of Perry’s reality, and don’t allow the dizzying highs of being young and famous to overtake the context of Perry’s tumultuous inner life.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
Articles Related to punctuate
Cite this Entry
“Punctuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punctuate. Accessed 10 Mar. 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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