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
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 19 May 2026
They are used to delineate space and accentuate the lines of a landscape, including planting beds and pathways.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
To accentuate her silver metallic gown, Twain rocked rocked full bangs teamed with long auburn tresses.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Glittering in its design, the black panther was accentuated and highlighted by wisps of sheer fabric that flowed from the waistline of the dress to the arrival carpet, in shades of black and gray.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for accentuate
Cite this Entry
“Accentuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accentuate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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accentuate
verb
