Here are some examples:
* "The speech was punctuated by applause." (The applause interrupted the speech at intervals.)
* "The music was punctuated by silences." (The silences marked intervals in the music.)
* "Their conversation was punctuated by bursts of laughter." (The laughter interrupted the conversation at intervals.)
* "The summer was punctuated by trips to the beach." (The beach trips marked intervals during the summer.)
The word "punctuated" comes from the verb "punctuate", which refers to the use of punctuation marks in writing to separate sentences, clauses, and phrases.
The meaning of "punctuated" is closely related to this original meaning: just as punctuation marks interrupt the flow of text, the things that "punctuate" something else interrupt its flow.