accentuate

[ak-sen-choo-eyt] /ækˈsɛn tʃuˌeɪt/

verb (used with object), accentuated, accentuating.

to give emphasis or prominence to.

to mark or pronounce with an accent.

Origin

1725-35; < Medieval Latin accentuātus intoned (past participle of accentuāre). See accent, -ate¹

Related forms

overaccentuate, verb (used with object), overaccentuated, overaccentuating.

reaccentuate, verb (used with object), reaccentuated, reaccentuating.

unaccentuated, adjective

well-accentuated, adjective

Can be confused

accent, accentuate, assent.

Examples from the web for accentuate

You can accentuate each line with an eyebrow pencil and literally draw anger, fear or horror into your face.
Regulators need to counterbalance the cycle, not accentuate it.
Yaged said he will be looking at opportunities in the digital space to accentuate storytelling.
Most people mentally accentuate their partners' better qualities.
Her job was to accentuate the dancers' ability to reveal new spaces around them.
Don't criticize his mistakes or accentuate his shortcomings.
Sound technical writers no longer accentuate the passive voice.
In all cases, I try to accentuate the positive.
Quiet, graceful illustrations accentuate the classic tale's nostalgic tone.
Be concise, engaging and accentuate your strengths.

British Dictionary definitions for accentuate

accentuate

/ækˈsɛntʃʊˌeɪt/

verb

(transitive) to stress or emphasize

Derived Forms

accentuation, noun

Word Origin and History for accentuate

1731, from Medieval Latin accentuatus, past participle of accentuare "to accent," from Latin accentus (see accent (n.)). Originally "to pronounce with an accent;" meaning "emphasize" is recorded from 1865.

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

["Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive," 1944, music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer]

Related: Accentuated; accentuating.