animated

[an-uh-mey-tid]

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.

animated

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of animated¹

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

Example Sentences

After several haphazard attempts with the “Frozen” and “Moana” franchises, “Zootopia 2” can take the title as Disney’s most effective animated sequel yet.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A24’s comedy Eternity and Disney’s animated sequel Zootopia 2 both open on Wednesday, while Universal, 20th Century, and Paramount also have movies set for release.

Read more on Barron's

As Ms. Antonetta reports, one Nazi doctor’s defense lawyer argued his client was “animated with excessive enthusiasm by the thought of having to help people.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Only recently has the rating of animated classics, Broadway musicals and videogames become just right.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet, however destructive to his personal life, Matthiessen’s restive, yearning nature animated the best of his fiction.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• energetic 
• spirited 
• vivid