animated

[ an-uh-mey-tid ]

adjective

1. full of life, action, or spirit; lively; vigorous:

   an animated debate on the death penalty.

2. made or equipped to move or give the appearance of moving in an animallike fashion:

   animated puppets.

3. containing representations of animals or mechanical objects that appear to move as real ones do:

   an animated window display.

animated

/ ˈænɪˌmeɪtɪd /

adjective

1. full of vivacity and spirit; lively
2. characterized by movement and activity

   an animated scene met her eye

3. possessing life; animate
4. moving or appearing to move as if alive

   an animated display

5. pertaining to cinematographic animation

Derived Forms

• ˈaniˌmatedly, adverb

Other Words From

• ani·mated·ly adverb
• non·ani·mated adjective
• over·ani·mated adjective
• over·ani·mated·ly adverb
• semi·ani·mated adjective
• un·ani·mated adjective
• un·ani·mated·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of animated¹

First recorded in 1525–35; animate + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Jones is a veteran of another beloved-yet-controversial animated series on Adult Swim, The Boondocks.

From The Daily Beast

Decades ago, the writer-director wrote an episode of the animated comedy that never was.

From The Daily Beast

After some animated debate at the conference, Lelaie declared, with some frustration, “If you push on the stick, you will fly.”

From The Daily Beast

One wonders if his subsequent battles with the “Evil Empire” were animated by this belief.

From The Daily Beast

It is the most animated this Downton Abbey fan has ever seen Lady Grantham.

From The Daily Beast

Longcluse looked animated—smiling; but a stupendous load lay on his heart.

From Project Gutenberg

A stronger heart than Michael's might have quailed in his position; yet the pressure from without animated and invigorated him.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing could be more animated than the scene before me, and which spread to the utmost reach of view.

From Project Gutenberg

We need hardly say that the conversation was animated, and that it bore largely on the life-history of the absent Susy.

From Project Gutenberg

It is only the servile adulation of later writers that has pictured Bruce as animated by patriotism.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• energetic
• spirited
• vivid