dynamic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or characterized by energy or effective action; vigorously active or forceful; energetic.
the dynamic president of the firm.
-
Physics.
-
of or relating to force or power.
-
of or relating to force related to motion.
-
-
pertaining to the science of dynamics.
-
of or relating to the range of volume of musical sound.
-
Digital Technology. (of data storage, processing, or programming) affected by the passage of time or the presence or absence of power.
Dynamic memory must be constantly refreshed to avoid losing data.
Dynamic websites contain web pages that are generated in real time.
-
Grammar. nonstative.
noun
adjective
-
of or concerned with energy or forces that produce motion, as opposed to static
-
of or concerned with dynamics
-
Also: dynamical. characterized by force of personality, ambition, energy, new ideas, etc
-
music of, relating to, or indicating dynamics
dynamic marks
-
computing (of a memory) needing its contents refreshed periodically Compare static
-
Relating to energy or to objects in motion.
-
Compare static
-
Relating to the study of dynamics.
-
Characterized by continuous change or activity.
Other Word Forms
- dynamically adverb
- nondynamic adjective
- nondynamical adjective
- nondynamically adverb
- undynamic adjective
- undynamically adverb
Etymology
Origin of dynamic
First recorded in 1810–20; from French dynamique, from Greek dynamikós, equivalent to dýnam(is) “force, power” + -ikos adjective suffix; -ic
Explanation
If a person, place, or thing is energetic and active, then it's dynamic. When things are dynamic, there's a lot going on. Even the most exciting rural town won't be as dynamic as a big city: there are just more things happening in a city. Someone with a dynamic personality is probably funny, loud, and excitable; a quiet, mousy person isn't dynamic. You can also talk about the dynamic aspect of music, which has to do with how the music uses dynamics, which means "changes in volume." When things are dynamic, changes and energy are in the air.
Vocabulary lists containing dynamic
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
ACT Vocabulary List
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Brief History of Time
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He predicted the coming dynamic will involve humans supervising AI agents to protect networks against hackers using that same technology to attack.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
What does this dynamic mean for the broader market?
From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026
These findings reveal that changes in nighttime lighting are more dynamic and localized than previously understood.
From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026
And that dynamic slowly, slowly, slowly shifted to being the right direction.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
In the evenings, the city’s only public high school taught laboratory employees everything from sewing to dynamic model design, bookkeeping to machine shop theory.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
