What does accentuate mean?
"Accentuate" is a transitive verb meaning to emphasize something or make it more noticeable. When you accentuate a point, you draw attention to it so that it stands out; when clothing or lighting accentuates a feature, it makes that feature visually more prominent. The word derives from Latin "accentus," meaning tone or emphasis, and entered English in the early eighteenth century, originally in connection with pronunciation and musical stress before broadening to general use. Today it appears frequently in fashion and design writing ("a belt that accentuates the waist"), in rhetoric and argumentation ("to accentuate the differences between the two proposals"), and in psychology, where the well-known phrase "accentuate the positive" encourages focusing on strengths rather than shortcomings. Somewhat formal in tone, "accentuate" is a precise alternative to plainer verbs like "stress" or "highlight," carrying a connotation of deliberate, purposeful emphasis rather than mere mention.
verbTo emphasize or make something more noticeable; to stress a particular feature, quality, or aspect of something.
- To give emphasis or prominence to something (e.g. to accentuate a point).
- To make a physical feature or quality more noticeable (e.g. clothing that accentuates the waist).
"The tailored jacket accentuates her shoulders, giving the outfit a sharp, confident silhouette."
"She paused deliberately to accentuate the most important point of her argument."
"The low neckline of the dress accentuated the delicate necklace she wore."
The phrase "accentuate the positive" was popularized by a 1944 Johnny Mercer hit song — and it's still one of the word's most famous appearances.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of accentuate
"Accentuate" comes from the Latin "accentus," meaning tone, intonation, or emphasis given to a syllable, itself from "ad-" (toward) plus "canere" (to sing). The verb was formed from the noun "accent" with the Latinate suffix "-uate" and entered English in the early eighteenth century, first used in relation to pronunciation and stress before extending to figurative emphasis. Its relatives include "accent," "accentuation," and "accentual," all tracing back to the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How accentuate is actually used
"Accentuate" is somewhat formal in register, common in fashion writing, criticism, and analytical prose; "highlight" or "stress" are more neutral everyday alternatives. It is typically used transitively.
Easily confused with accentuate
"Accent" is primarily a noun referring to a distinctive pronunciation, emphasis mark, or regional speech pattern, while "accentuate" is a verb meaning to make something more prominent.
"Exacerbate" means to make a problem or bad situation worse, whereas "accentuate" simply makes a feature more noticeable and carries no implication of harm.