animation

American  

[an-uh-mey-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

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

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

Later in life, when he studied animation at Gobelins Paris, Coffin realized that those actors in early Hollywood movies, particularly comedies, had provided the foundation for pioneering animators.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026

The wheelie-dealies allow drivers to navigate the R2’s devilishly smart, wickedly fast UX, which splashes its crisp, legible graphics and impish animation across both the binnacle display and the one in the center dash.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026

The original movie, set in a world where toys come to life, revolutionised the use of computer-generated graphics and propelled Pixar into the ranks of leading animation studios.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

Though he professed to not know the mainland scene "very well", he pinpointed animation and small-scale productions as bright spots.

From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026

The word “together” said with more animation than Ifemelu had ever heard from Morgan.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie