resonate

American  

[rez-uh-neyt] / ˈrɛz əˌneɪt /

verb (used without object)

• resonates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• resonated,
  past participle,  past
• resonating
  present participle

1. to resound.

2. to act as a resonator; exhibit resonance.

3. Electronics. to reinforce oscillations because the natural frequency of the device is the same as the frequency of the source.

4. to amplify vocal sound by the sympathetic vibration of air in certain cavities and bony structures.

5. to produce a positive feeling, emotional response, or opinion.

   an issue that clearly resonates with members of our community; a poem that resonates for me.

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verb (used with object)

• resonates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• resonated,
  past participle,  past
• resonating
  present participle

1. to cause to resound.

resonate British  

/ ˈrɛzəˌneɪt /

verb

1. to resound or cause to resound; reverberate

2. (of a mechanical system, electrical circuit, chemical compound, etc) to exhibit or cause to exhibit resonance

3. to be understood or receive a sympathetic response

   themes which will resonate with voters

4. to be filled with

   simple words that seem to resonate with mystery and beauty

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• resonation
  noun
• unresonating
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• resonating
  present
• resonated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• resonate
  simple
• resonates
  simple
• have resonated
  perfect
• has resonated
  perfect
• am resonating
  progressive
• are resonating
  progressive
• is resonating
  progressive
• have been resonating
  perfect progressive
• has been resonating
  perfect progressive

Past

• resonated
  simple
• had resonated
  perfect
• was resonating
  progressive
• were resonating
  progressive
• had been resonating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will resonate
  simple
• will have resonated
  perfect
• will be resonating
  progressive
• will have been resonating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of resonate

First recorded in 1870–75; from Latin resonātus “sounded again,” past participle of resonāre “to sound again”; see resound

Explanation

To resonate is to make, hear, or even understand a deep, full sound. Your speech about the dangers of scarves and convertibles will resonate with your audience if you tell the story of Isadora Duncan's death. The verb resonate, which comes from the Latin resonatum, first referred only to sound, but has now developed an emotional connotation. Resonate sounds a whole lot like another verb, resound, but they have subtly different meanings. Resound means “to repeat the sound,” but resonate means “to expand, amplify.” Sound can resonate when broadcast through speakers, and so can an idea or feeling, when expressed articulately or with passion.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

resonate resonates resonated resonating

Wright has told Wendy’s franchisees that the chain’s promotions need to better resonate with customers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

The themes resonate with many readers, she adds.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

“We hope it gives fans a meaningful way to celebrate the artist whose voice and influence continue to resonate around the world.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but it isn’t what made “Chef’s Table” resonate in the first place.

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026

I lay my angry head on his chest under his red beard and listen to his voice resonate.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

"I think this one really hits home. We are seeing the world heat up so, yeah, it really resonates in today's world," he told Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

This boundary-crossing may help explain why the phenomenon resonates so strongly at this cultural moment.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

“People grow up with it, they become fans of it, they live with it. When you’ve got IP that resonates so well literally around the world with fans, I just think it’s a clever extension.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

“That resonates with a lot of Iraqi Shias who feel a shared history with Iran.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

Lev has this way of talking about these things—stars, futures—it resonates within me like music.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

The fast-food chain said it remains committed to a value-oriented menu that has resonated in recent years amid inflation-weary consumers in its home market and overseas.

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

It leaned on new products like novelty sugary drinks and limited-offer items like S’mores beverages that resonated “particularly well” with Gen Z customers, he added.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

She said this had been achieved by Sir Keir under very difficult circumstances - but admitted that the government's work had not resonated with the public.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

I think a lot of us feel like we grew up with Hilary, so all of her music resonated with us then, and now, now that we’re older, through relationships or divorces or motherhood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

He had been down the lonely road to those games, where the heartbeat had resonated more spectacularly than in the healthiest newborn.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

“But hey, whatever’s resonating, whatever brings a little bit of joy. Whatever brings a little bit of that stick it to ’em,” she said, doing the thing.

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026

Other perks are resonating, as well, with the Amex customer base.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Cardmember perks are resonating, an Amex executive says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

But this is something that is resonating nationally because Pratt has that celebrity factor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

Termites make percussive sounds to each other by beating their heads against the floor in the dark, resonating corridors of their nests.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Related Words

• echo
• reverberate
• vibrate