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.
Synonyms
Examples of accentuate in a Sentence
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2024
Their hairstyling prowess brought the designer’s campaign to life with intricate up-dos to accentuate the complexities of the top
But the world of hair always spoke to Oye’s soul long before becoming a brand founder.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 31 Oct. 2024
Sharing a photo of herself on the red carpet, Breeds wore a tight pink dress that accentuated her bump, posing with her hand on top of her belly.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Even with that sense of realistic volume and weight, the animation is still abound with more exaggerated poses, all the better to accentuate the cast’s awkward antics.
—Kambole Campbell, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near accentuate
Cite this Entry
“Accentuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accentuate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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accentuate
verb
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