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

See Examples For:

animation animations

But relief is coming for the upwards of 250,000 people from all over the world who attend the WCS every year to embody manga, animation or video game characters.

From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026

You are not trying to preserve the sandwich in suspended animation.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

The postings suggest the Disney, Netflix and Amazon studios are building repeatable AI workflows for visual effects, animation, sound and dubbing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

Researchers combined multiple images into an animation that traces the comet's movement as it travels toward its closest approach to the Sun.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026

Patti normally had a busy, chatty way about her, but today she sounded low and her voice didn’t have its usual animation.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart

As this technology developed, the photographs became more detailed and the animations swifter and smoother.

From Slate ● May 25, 2026

A framed screen displaying the original 2001 work from director Chris Columbus is untouched, but surrounding it are newly added digital animations designed to envelop guests.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026

National regulations require microdrama makers to register to obtain a licence -- a step made mandatory for AI-generated animations from this month.

From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026

Wood's hotel room looked out at the Sphere, which has an even bigger exterior screen that displays animations and various other content, including, at times, an eye.

From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026

The only thing that makes me feel better is thinking about Ray’s animations.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko