animated

[ an-uh-mey-tid ]

/ ˈæn əˌmeɪ tɪd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR animated ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

full of life, action, or spirit; lively; vigorous: an animated debate on the death penalty.

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

containing representations of animals or mechanical objects that appear to move as real ones do: an animated window display.

Nearby words

animalistic, animality, animalize, animally, animate, animated, animated cartoon, animated oat, animately, animatic, animation

Origin of animated

First recorded in 1525–35; animate + -ed²

Related forms

an·i·mat·ed·ly, adverbnon·an·i·mat·ed, adjectiveo·ver·an·i·mat·ed, adjectiveo·ver·an·i·mat·ed·ly, adverb

sem·i·an·i·mat·ed, adjectiveun·an·i·mat·ed, adjectiveun·an·i·mat·ed·ly, adverb

Definition for animated (2 of 2)

animate

[ verb an-uh-meyt; adjective an-uh-mit ]

/ verb ˈæn əˌmeɪt; adjective ˈæn ə mɪt /

verb (used with object), an·i·mat·ed, an·i·mat·ing.

to give life to; make alive: God animated the dust.

to make lively, vivacious, or vigorous; give zest or spirit to: Her presence animated the party.

to fill with courage or boldness; encourage: to animate weary troops.

to move or stir to action; motivate: He was animated by religious zeal.

to give motion to: leaves animated by a breeze.

to render or produce (a story, character, movie, etc.) by using animation: to animate a children's story;to animate the characters in a video game;an animated film.

adjective

alive; possessing life: animate creatures.

lively: an animate expression of joy.

of or relating to animal life.

able to move voluntarily.

Linguistics. belonging to a syntactic category or having a semantic feature that is characteristic of words denoting beings regarded as having perception and volition (opposed to inanimate).

Origin of animate

1375–1425; late Middle English animat < Latin animātus filled with breath or air, quickened, animated (past participle of animāre). See anima, -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR animate

1 vivify, quicken, vitalize.

2 energize, fortify.

3 inspire, inspirit, hearten, arouse, exhilarate.

4 excite, incite, fire, urge, kindle, prompt.

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ANTONYMS FOR animate

1 kill.

7 dead.

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Related forms

an·i·mate·ly, adverban·i·mate·ness, nounan·i·mat·ing·ly, adverbin·ter·an·i·mate, verb (used with object), in·ter·an·i·mat·ed, in·ter·an·i·mat·ing.

non·an·i·mate, adjectivenon·an·i·mat·ing, adjectivenon·an·i·mat·ing·ly, adverbsem·i·an·i·mate, adjectiveun·an·i·mat·ing, adjectiveun·an·i·mat·ing·ly, adverb

Synonym study

2. Animate, invigorate, stimulate mean to enliven. To animate is to create a liveliness: Health and energy animated his movements. To invigorate means to give physical vigor, to refresh, to exhilarate: Mountain air invigorates. To stimulate is to arouse a latent liveliness on a particular occasion: Caffeine will stimulate you and keep you alert.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for animated

Decades ago, the writer-director wrote an episode of the animated comedy that never was.
Here’s the Lost Judd Apatow ‘Simpsons’ Episode, Penned by Judd Apatow|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After some animated debate at the conference, Lelaie declared, with some frustration, “If you push on the stick, you will fly.”
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One wonders if his subsequent battles with the “Evil Empire” were animated by this belief.
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault|Jay Michaelson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is the most animated this Downton Abbey fan has ever seen Lady Grantham.
The Real-Life ‘Downton’ Millionairesses Who Changed Britain|Tim Teeman|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It was the 1985 Halloween special that set an animated Garfield ahead of its contemporary competitors.
Garfield Television: The Cat Who Saved Primetime Cartoons|Rich Goldstein|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She snatched it up and ran in pursuit of the intrepid pair advancing toward the animated scene under the maple-tree.
Peggy Raymond's Vacation|Harriet L. (Harriet Lummis) Smith
Additions had been made to the number of peons, and the farm presented quite an animated appearance.
Out on the Pampas|G. A. Henty
The air service boys were soon at the hangars, where an animated scene was taking place.
Air Service Boys Over The Enemy's Lines|Charles Amory Beach
In a rude log hut of Western Kentucky was seated an animated and intelligent-looking young man.
Mind Amongst the Spindles|Various
I care not with what principle the new-born patriot is animated, if the measures he supports are beneficial to the community.
Junius Unmasked|Joel Moody

British Dictionary definitions for animated (1 of 2)

animated

/ (ˈænɪˌmeɪtɪd) /

adjective

full of vivacity and spirit; lively

characterized by movement and activityan animated scene met her eye

possessing life; animate

moving or appearing to move as if alivean animated display

pertaining to cinematographic animation

Derived Formsanimatedly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for animated (2 of 2)

animate

verb (ˈænɪˌmeɪt) (tr)

to give life to or cause to come alive

to make lively; enliven

to encourage or inspire

to impart motion to; move to action or work

to record on film or video tape so as to give movement toan animated cartoon

adjective (ˈænɪmɪt)

being alive or having life

gay, spirited, or lively

Word Origin for animate

C16: from Latin animāre to fill with breath, make alive, from anima breath, spirit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for animated (1 of 3)

animated

adj.

1530s, "alive," past participle adjective from animate (v.). Meaning "mentally excited" is from 1530s; "full of activity" from 1580s. The "moving pictures" sense is attested from 1895; of cartoons from 1897. Related: Animatedly.

Word Origin and History for animated (1 of 3)

animate

1530s, "to fill with boldness or courage," from Latin animatus past participle of animare "give breath to," also "to endow with a particular spirit, to give courage to," from anima "life, breath" (see animus). Sense of "give life to" in English attested from 1742. Related: Animated; animating.

Word Origin and History for animated (2 of 3)

animate

adj.

"alive," late 14c., from Latin animatus (see animate (v.)).

animated

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of animated

Definition for animated (2 of 2)

animate

verb (used with object), an·i·mat·ed, an·i·mat·ing.

adjective

Origin of animate

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for animated

British Dictionary definitions for animated (1 of 2)

animated

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for animated (2 of 2)

animate

verb (ˈænɪˌmeɪt) (tr)

adjective (ˈænɪmɪt)

Word Origin for animate

Word Origin and History for animated (1 of 3)

animated

Word Origin and History for animated (1 of 3)

animate

Word Origin and History for animated (2 of 3)

animate