1 accentuate | Definition of accentuate
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accentuate

verb
ac·​cen·​tu·​ate | \ ik-ˈsen(t)-shə-ˌwāt How to pronounce accentuate (audio) , ak-\
accentuated; accentuating

Definition of accentuate

transitive verb

: to make (something) more prominent or noticeable : accent, emphasize With her hair in tight curls that accentuate her pale beauty, she seems lit from within.— Peter Travers trying to accentuate the positive aspects of the program also : intensify accentuates the feeling of despair
Other Words from accentuate Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about accentuate

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Other Words from accentuate

accentuation \ ik-​ˌsen(t)-​shə-​ˈwā-​shən How to pronounce accentuation (audio) , (ˌ)ak-​ \ noun

Did You Know?

When you "accentuate" something, you put an "accent" (or emphasis) on it. So it will come as no surprise to learn that etymologists have traced "accentuate" back to "accentus," the Latin word for "accent." "Accentus," in turn, combines the prefix ad- with cantus, meaning "song." Other descendants of "accentus" in English include "accent" itself, as well as "accentual" ("of, relating to, or characterized by accent").

Examples of accentuate in a Sentence

He likes to wear clothes that accentuate his muscular build. let's accentuate the saxophones during this piece by having the sax players stand up

Recent Examples on the Web

 In the photo, Witherspoon, 43, accentuated her startled face with a Snapchat filter, complete with glasses, bunny ears and sparkly hair bows. — Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, "Reese Witherspoon reveals 'how to talk to your kids on Snapchat' and many moms can relate," 23 Aug. 2019 Yellow-green walls accentuate deep recesses that give the four-story building a strongly sculptural presence. — Blair Kamin, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Chicago shows how public housing and libraries can coexist and be visually stunning. Now we need more of them.," 22 Aug. 2019 Such barriers always accentuate my feelings of difference from the river otters, sunfish and rainbow trout, to whom both clock time and floating partitions are a mere curiosity. — New York Times, "The Magic of Swimming Holes," 18 Aug. 2019 Last weekend’s mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton accentuated a painful fact of 21st century life: the lurking fear that a lethal threat could erupt at any public gathering. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Jumpy? In an anxious age, San Diegans feel the jitters," 11 Aug. 2019 Their timidity also only accentuated rampant hypocrisy. — Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "Democrats’ Debate Cowardice, Hypocrisy, and Nuttiness," 6 Aug. 2019 Eleven's periodic uncertainty with romance and fashion, as much tied to Hopper sheltering her now as to her laboratory upbringing, accentuates Brown's comic timing and offers necessary interludes between nosebleeds. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Stranger Things' Season 3: TV Review," 30 June 2019 This accentuates in all the right places, and smooths over or hides the not-so-favorite places. — Christina Butan, PEOPLE.com, "Amazon Shoppers Say This Comfy, $18 Summer Dress Is One of the Most Flattering They Own," 19 June 2019 Magno: Lighter shades of high-gloss finishes can accentuate architectural detail without overwhelming an existing color scheme. — Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, "Everything You Need to Know About High-Gloss Paint," 22 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accentuate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of accentuate

circa 1719, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for accentuate

borrowed from Medieval Latin accentuātus, past participle of accentuāre "to accent, stress," derivative of Latin accentus accent entry 1

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More Definitions for accentuate

accentuate

verb
ac·​cen·​tu·​ate | \ ak-ˈsen-chə-ˌwāt How to pronounce accentuate (audio) \
accentuated; accentuating

Kids Definition of accentuate

: to make more noticeable Your blue shirt accentuates your eyes.

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More from Merriam-Webster on accentuate

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with accentuate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for accentuate

Spanish Central: Translation of accentuate

Nglish: Translation of accentuate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of accentuate for Arabic Speakers

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