vibrant
Americanadjective
-
moving to and fro rapidly; vibrating.
-
vibrating so as to produce sound, as a string.
-
(of sounds) characterized by perceptible vibration; resonant; resounding.
-
pulsating with vigor and energy.
the vibrant life of a large city.
-
a vibrant personality.
-
stimulating; exciting; vivid: a vibrant performance.
vibrant colors;
a vibrant performance.
-
Phonetics. made with tonal vibration of the vocal cords; voiced.
noun
adjective
-
characterized by or exhibiting vibration; pulsating or trembling
-
giving an impression of vigour and activity
-
caused by vibration; resonant
-
(of colour) strong and vivid
-
phonetics trilled or rolled
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of vibrant
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin vibrant-, stem of vibrāns, present participle of vibrāre “to shake, move to and fro”; see -ant
Explanation
Vibrant colors are bright. Vibrant sounds are loud and resonant. Vibrant people are ones you remember — they're bright and full of personality. Vibrant was originally intended to describe sounds. Sound waves vibrate, and when they vibrate more rapidly, they sound brighter. Singers and string instrument players increase this effect by shaking the notes they play through a technique called vibrato that increases the vibrancy of their sound.
Vocabulary lists containing vibrant
Words to Capture Your Joy
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 7
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sause, the McCourt spokesperson, didn’t respond to a Times inquiry asking whether McCourt or his companies contributed to Vibrant.
From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026
Emergency services are contacted in fewer than 2% of calls, according to Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit organization that administers 988, and most of these dispatches are made with the caller’s consent.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
Appeared in the January 31, 2026, print edition as 'A Vibrant Vision in Munich'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026
Appeared in the December 10, 2025, print edition as 'ESPN’s Tribute To a Vibrant Voice'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025
Vibrant and clear, the sunlight glided through it, making an emerald ring of light on the wall.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
