punctuate
verb · adjective
Simple meaning
To add or to interrupt at regular intervals.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
puhngkchooaytSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈpʌŋktʃueɪt
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
transitive
To add or to interrupt at regular intervals.
transitive
To add punctuation to.
Interrupt periodically
“Her sharp questions punctuated the speaker's drone.”
Insert punctuation marks into
transitive
To emphasize; to stress.
adjective
Point-like; consisting of or marked with one or more points.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
More ways to use punctuate
- “Her sharp questions punctuated the speaker's drone.”verb
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A theory of evolution holding that evolutionary change in the fossil record came in fits and starts rather than in a steady process of slow change.
A theory of evolution holding that evolutionary change in the fossil record came in fits and starts rather than in a steady process of slow change.
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Keep learning “punctuate” by choosing the kind of practice you need next.
- Practice sentence writingWrite sentences with vocabulary and get instant feedback.
- Practice in contextAnswer short vocabulary questions drawn from real situations.
- Review vocabularyTest your recall and strengthen words over time.
- Practice typingType vocabulary in short rounds that draw from words you've learned and saved.
Want to type words like this one without looking at the keyboard? Each typing round draws from words you've learned, saved or need to review. Follow the free Learn to Type lessons and type your own vocabulary with confidence.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.