Meaning

(linguistics) A higher-pitched or stronger (louder or longer) articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it..

Definitions by Sense

1. (linguistics) A higher-pitched or stronger (louder or longer) articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it.
2. (figuratively) Emphasis or importance in general.
3. (orthography) A mark used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken stress.
4. (orthography) Any mark used in writing over letters, either in order to indicate the place of the spoken stress, or to indicate the nature or quality of the vowel marked, or to distinguish homophones.
5. Modulation of the voice in speaking; the manner of speaking or pronouncing; a peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice, expressing emotion; tone.
6. (linguistics, sociolinguistics) The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.
7. A word; a significant tone or sound.
8. (usually plural only) Expressions in general; speech.

Example Sentences

In the word "careful", the accent is placed on the first syllable.

At this hotel, the accent is on luxury.

The name Cézanne is written with an acute accent.

California, like several other states, prohibits the use of diacritical marks or accents on official documents. That means no tilde (~), no accent grave (`), no umlaut (¨) and certainly no cedilla (¸).

I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave; which for my part I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to entreat me to 't.

The tender Accents of a Woman’s Cry ¶ Will paſs unheard, will unregarded die;

And he repeated her words with such assurance of accent, such boastful pretence of amazement, that she could not help replying with quickness …

Edmund White, John Mitzel, and David Goodstein, among others, have taken pains to distinguish two kinds of "liberation" envisioned by the members of our recently emerged movement: assimilation into the body politic — or a total restructuring of the sex-role system. The second path amounts to revolutionary subversion, but we hear little about it here, except in the accents of reproach: to the idea that gay people might be "pioneers in the area of relationship" and that "our greatest offering to civilization is the beauty of sexual freedom," McNaught responds: "Bunk!"

Word Forms

• accents
• accenting
• accented

Synonyms for accent

Antonyms for accent

Related Words

When Should You Use Accent?

Use accent when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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