animated

American  

[an-uh-mey-tid] / ˈæn əˌmeɪ tɪd /

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.

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animated British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• animatedly adverb
• nonanimated adjective
• overanimated adjective
• overanimatedly adverb
• semianimated adjective
• unanimated adjective
• unanimatedly adverb

Etymology

Origin of animated

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

Example Sentences

Mirman voices middle child Gene Belcher in Fox’s animated comedy “Bob’s Burgers,” which is currently in its 16th season.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Seated on the reviewing stand at the Place de la Concorde, Trump grew animated as the aircraft began flying overhead, clapping and leaning toward Macron and his wife to point at the sky.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Sim adds that the cosmic film is a "gorgeously animated love letter to Mario fans".

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Standing firm in second place was Disney/Pixar animated hit "Hoppers," with $12.2 million in the United States and Canada, according to Exhibitor Relations.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

The animated dragon fizzled out a geyser of gas and shriveled into a heap of crinkled plastic.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• energetic
• spirited
• vivid