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 Wharton
3
: 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
The undefeated season, punctuated by a 44-16 rout of Alabama in the title game, pushed the Tigers into the all-time-great debate. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026 The loss was punctuated by two uncharacteristically bad decisions on offense — one by Jokic with the ball in his hands, the other by Murray with the ball in his. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026 The wild Survivor 50 moment punctuated a sudden unraveling for one of the season’s sharpest strategic minds. —Terry Terrones, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026 The half-dozen screens punctuating the show with this gesture offer potent and campy but all-too-serious reminders that anger and nostalgia for a world of white supremacy are not dead. —Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punctuate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026 The loss was punctuated by two uncharacteristically bad decisions on offense — one by Jokic with the ball in his hands, the other by Murray with the ball in his. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026 The wild Survivor 50 moment punctuated a sudden unraveling for one of the season’s sharpest strategic minds. —Terry Terrones, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026 The half-dozen screens punctuating the show with this gesture offer potent and campy but all-too-serious reminders that anger and nostalgia for a world of white supremacy are not dead. —Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punctuate
Cite this Entry
“Punctuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/punctuate. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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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