animation

American  

[an-uh-may-shuhn] / ˌæn əˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

• animations
  plural

1. animated quality; liveliness; vivacity; spirit.

   to talk with animation.

   Synonyms:

   sprightliness, exhilaration, ardor, enthusiasm, energy, vigor

   Antonyms:

   sluggishness

2. an act or instance of animating or enlivening.

3. the state or condition of being animated.

4. Graphic Arts

   1. a dynamic visual medium produced from static drawings, models, or objects posed in a series of incremental movements that are then rapidly sequenced to give the illusion of lifelike motion.

   2. the process of preparing such animation, as for films, cartoons, video games, etc.

   3. a product of such animation, as a film or cartoon.

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animation British  

/ ˌænɪˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. liveliness; vivacity

2. the condition of being alive

3. 1. the techniques used in the production of animated cartoons

   2. a variant of animated cartoon

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interanimation
  noun
• nonanimation
  noun
• overanimation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• animations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of animation

1590–1600; 1910–15 animation for def. 4; (< Middle French ) < Latin animātiōn- (stem of animātiō a bestowing of life). See animate, -ion

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Explanation

Animation is the state of being full of life and energy, like a room full of excited kids at a birthday party. You're sure to get more people excited about your idea if you speak with animation, or liveliness, in your voice. If your face has animation, the expression in your eyes and the shape of your mouth accent what you say. As it applies to film making, animation refers to bringing something flat and unmoving, like a drawing, to life.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

animation animations

Backlash against AI imagery everywhere from major ad campaigns to local shawarma stands is driving demand for high-touch techniques like claymation and hand-drawn animation, filmmakers say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

Prada last week introduced its own holiday effort, a whimsical combination of live action and animation featuring the hand-drawn illustrations of artists led by Disney alumnus John Pomeroy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

"Wildwood," a stop-motion animation tale from Laika Studios about a young girl who ventures into an enchanted forest to rescue her kidnapped brother, held in third place with $7.5 million.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

The cartoon began as a preschool animation on YouTube called Fire Spike!, which was about the adventures of a dragon and his friends.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

The app has a blue interface with an animation of a gray clock as two silhouettes approach each other and high five.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

The app features unboxing animations, fake receipts and dopamine-inducing sound effects.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

As this technology developed, the photographs became more detailed and the animations swifter and smoother.

From Slate ● May 25, 2026

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is the latest film to be given the Cosm treatment, in which supplemental animations seek to envelop guests.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

James O'Donoghue, from the University of Reading, has produced more than 100 educational animations on space, which have been viewed more than 400 million times around the world.

From BBC ● May 10, 2026

The only thing that makes me feel better is thinking about Ray’s animations.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

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