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

Explanation

Something that seems full of life and movement is said to be animated. Animated films for television and movies include cartoons, Claymation, puppets, and computer-generated images, which are all simulations of living things. The Latin animāre "give breath to" is the basis for the word animated. The business of animated films has grown with the advent of computers, but the idea of animating something began long before cartoons and CGI. In Mary Shelley's classic 19th-century novel "Frankenstein," the monster, built of dead parts, is animated by electrical impulses, an idea that "sparked" a fascination with regeneration that survives to this very day.

Example Sentences

After spending the last three weeks in the top spot, the animated sequel from Universal and Illumination Studios has hauled in over $775 million at the global box office, Exhibitor Relations reported.

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

The article characterizes his demeanor as overly restrained and controlled, contrasting his stiff posture and stone-faced expression with the animated gestures and expressions of other candidates.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

And these memos lay bare the extent to which the work product underpinning these decisions is often half-hearted and vibes-based; animated more by grievance and hurt feelings than neutral legal rules.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

Michael Jackson gets a biopic courtesy of Antoine Fuqua, a cat sets out to make it without his humans in Aubrey Plaza’s animated ‘Kevin,’ a bevy of Broadway shows open, and more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

I am nothing, no one, a messenger no more worthy of attention than an animated twig woman or an owl.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• energetic
• spirited
• vivid