verb
punctuate
Punctuate (verb) means to put marks such as commas and full stops into a piece of writing.
verb
1
To put marks such as commas and full stops into a piece of writing.
"That occurrence of "its" needs to be punctuated as "it's"."
2
To break something up with pauses or events that happen regularly.
"Most soldiers would testify that the everyday experience of war is long stretches of boredom punctuated by sudden, terrifying spells of disorder."
— Frank Pasquale, ‘Machines set loose to slaughter’: the dangerous rise of military AI (2020)
"My father punctuated his tirade with thumps on the desk."
3
To give special importance to something.
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Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin pūnctuātus, perfect passive participle of pūnctuō (“to mark with points”), from Medieval Latin pūnctus (“a point, dot”), from pungō (“to prick, punch”); see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Doublet of punch.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for punctuate
See all rhymes for punctuate →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of punctuate?
"punctuate" (verb) means to put marks such as commas and full stops into a piece of writing.
What is another word for punctuate?
Other words for "punctuate" include mark, accent, emphasize, emphasise, stress, accentuate.
What are the different meanings of punctuate?
"punctuate" has 3 main meanings: 1. To put marks such as commas and full stops into a piece of writing; 2. To break something up with pauses or events that happen regularly; 3. To give special importance to something.
