accentuate
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
To make something more noticeable or prominent; to emphasize.
To heighten the effect or intensity of something, often visually or audibly; to draw attention to a particular feature or quality.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically used with abstract qualities, features, or visual/auditory effects. Often implies making something that already exists more pronounced, rather than creating it anew.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word is used formally in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more common in written, descriptive, or analytical contexts (e.g., art criticism, design, social commentary) than in casual speech.
Frequency
Low to medium frequency in both varieties, with a slight edge in British English in literary and academic registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
accentuate + NP (direct object)be accentuated + by-phrase (agent)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports to highlight key risks or positive trends, e.g., 'The new data accentuates the urgency of our digital transformation.'
Academic
Common in literary analysis, sociology, and design studies to discuss features made prominent, e.g., 'The lighting accentuates the protagonist's isolation.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used when discussing fashion or decor, e.g., 'That belt accentuates your waist.'
Technical
Used in photography, cinematography, and sound engineering to describe the enhancement of specific elements.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The report served to accentuate the glaring inequalities in the system.
- Her choice of a dark lipstick accentuated the pallor of her skin.
American English
- The policy will only accentuate the existing divisions within the community.
- The architect used clean lines to accentuate the building's minimalist aesthetic.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form 'accentuatedly' is in use.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form 'accentuatedly' is in use.)
adjective
British English
- N/A (The adjective form 'accentuated' is participial only.)
American English
- N/A (The adjective form 'accentuated' is participial only.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The black frame accentuates the colours in the painting.
- Poor lighting can accentuate wrinkles in photographs.
- The economic crisis has accentuated the gap between rich and poor.
- The director uses close-up shots to accentuate the actor's emotional state.
- Her rhetorical style deliberately accentuates ambiguity rather than resolving it.
- The study's findings serve to accentuate the need for a paradigm shift in public health policy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an ACCENT in speech making a syllable louder. ACCENTUATE is like adding a verbal or visual ACCENT to make something stand out.
Conceptual Metaphor
VISUAL PROMINENCE IS VOLUME (making something more 'visible' is like making it louder).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with акцентировать in overly casual contexts where it sounds bookish. English 'accentuate' is formal. For everyday 'highlight', consider 'emphasize' or 'bring out'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it with a following 'on' (incorrect: 'accentuate on the issue'; correct: 'accentuate the issue').
- Confusing it with 'accent' as a noun.
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'highlight' or 'emphasize' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'accentuate' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a mid-frequency, formal word more common in writing and specific contexts like analysis, criticism, and description than in everyday conversation.
They are often synonymous. However, 'accentuate' often carries a stronger visual or sensory connotation (making a feature more noticeable), while 'emphasize' is broader and more common for stressing importance in speech or writing.
Yes, it is neutral. It can be used for negative features (e.g., 'accentuate a problem') or positive ones (e.g., 'accentuate your best features').
The direct noun is 'accentuation'. More commonly, the related noun 'accent' is used in similar contexts (e.g., 'an accent on sustainability').
Explore