Did you know?
When you accentuate something you put an “accent,” or emphasis, on it. There’s no need to stress out if you don’t know the word’s history, though; its journey into the English language was very straightforward. It comes from Latin accentus, meaning “accent” (which itself comes in part from cantus, meaning “song”), and since the early 18th century, its meanings haven’t changed much. The word was initially used as a synonym of the verb accent to mean “to pronounce with greater stress or force,” which is a small leap from today’s meaning of “to make something more noticeable; to emphasize.” One excellent way to remember not only how to pronounce accentuate but also its etymological connection to song is the classic (and helpfully titled) tune “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, which has been performed by such luminaries as Dinah Washington, Sam Cooke, and Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.
Examples of accentuate in a Sentence
Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Ground flax, also known as flax meal, binds this batter together and accentuates the nutty taste of oats.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Shadow Lining and Eyeliner Eyeliner is applied to strategically accentuate the shape of the eye in order to look widened or elongated.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
However, the Glow Up pieces accentuate your beautiful bod while still providing support and optimizing mobility.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accentuate
Cite this Entry
“Accentuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accentuate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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accentuate
verb
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