resonant
Americanadjective
-
resounding or echoing, as sounds.
the resonant thundering of cannons being fired.
-
deep and full of resonance.
a resonant voice.
- Synonyms:
- reverberant, sonorant, vibrant, rich
-
pertaining to resonance.
-
producing resonance; causing amplification or sustention of sound.
-
pertaining to a system in a state of resonance, especially with respect to sound.
noun
adjective
-
(of sound) resounding or re-echoing
-
producing or enhancing resonance, as by sympathetic vibration
-
characterized by resonance
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of resonant
1585–95; < Latin resonant- (stem of resonāns ), present participle of resonāre to resound; see -ant
Explanation
Resonant describes sound that is deep and rich. It also can mean deeply evocative. A resonant speech moves you by bringing to mind all that is good in the world: family, friends, laughter. Resonant comes from the Latin re, meaning again, and sonare, meaning to sound––or literally to sound again or echo. So resonant's meanings all have that sense of reverberating or echoing. Not only does it mean echoing or evoking meaning, but it also refers to sound that echoes through a room. Don't confuse the spellings of resonant (the adjective) and resonate (the verb).
Vocabulary lists containing resonant
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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.
"Jonathan Larson's musical remains as powerful and resonant as ever, and Luke has found a way to honour its legacy while making it feel thrillingly fresh for today's audiences," they said in the announcement.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
Using their funding, the team assembled a compact experimental setup centered on a resonant cavity made from highly conductive materials.
From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026
Nostalgia, it turns out, is not just emotionally resonant.
From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026
That resonant final phrase is suggestive rather than precise.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Pet’s voice rolled through her head, deep and resonant: It is simple.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
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.
