ENGLISH
REFERENCE

accentuate

v.
C1 Advanced US //ækˈsɛntʃueɪt// UK //æksˈɛntʃuːˌeɪt// ac·cen·tu·ate

v. to make a quality, feeling, or physical feature more noticeable or stronger. You use this when you want to highlight a specific part of something.

v. to make a quality, feature, or physical characteristic more prominent or intense. Often used to describe the enhancement of visual or auditory elements.


SIMPLE

The bright red dress will accentuate her figure.

CONTEXTUAL

The lighting in the gallery is designed to accentuate the texture of the oil paintings on the walls.

COMPLEX

While the new software aims to simplify the interface, its bright color palette may actually accentuate the complexity of the underlying data structures for novice users.

Synonyms
Origin

First attested in 1731; borrowed from Medieval Latin accentuātus, perfect passive participle of accentuō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin accentus.

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