resonate

American  

[rez-uh-nayt] / ˈrɛz əˌneɪt /

verb (used without object)

• resonates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• resonated,
  past participle,  past
• resonating
  present participle

1. 

   to resound.

2. to act as a resonator; exhibit resonance.

3. Electronics. to reinforce oscillations because the natural frequency of the device is the same as the frequency of the source.

4. to amplify vocal sound by the sympathetic vibration of air in certain cavities and bony structures.

5. to produce a positive feeling, emotional response, or opinion.

   an issue that clearly resonates with members of our community; a poem that resonates for me.

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verb (used with object)

• resonates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• resonated,
  past participle,  past
• resonating
  present participle

1. to cause to resound.

resonate British  

/ ˈrɛzəˌneɪt /

verb

1. to resound or cause to resound; reverberate

2. (of a mechanical system, electrical circuit, chemical compound, etc) to exhibit or cause to exhibit resonance

3. to be understood or receive a sympathetic response

   themes which will resonate with voters

4. to be filled with

   simple words that seem to resonate with mystery and beauty

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• resonation
  noun
• unresonating
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• resonating
  present
• resonated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• resonate
  simple
• resonates
  simple
• have resonated
  perfect
• has resonated
  perfect
• am resonating
  progressive
• are resonating
  progressive
• is resonating
  progressive
• have been resonating
  perfect progressive
• has been resonating
  perfect progressive

Past

• resonated
  simple
• had resonated
  perfect
• was resonating
  progressive
• were resonating
  progressive
• had been resonating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will resonate
  simple
• will have resonated
  perfect
• will be resonating
  progressive
• will have been resonating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of resonate

First recorded in 1870–75; from Latin resonātus “sounded again,” past participle of resonāre “to sound again”; see resound

Explanation

To resonate is to make, hear, or even understand a deep, full sound. Your speech about the dangers of scarves and convertibles will resonate with your audience if you tell the story of Isadora Duncan's death. The verb resonate, which comes from the Latin resonatum, first referred only to sound, but has now developed an emotional connotation. Resonate sounds a whole lot like another verb, resound, but they have subtly different meanings. Resound means “to repeat the sound,” but resonate means “to expand, amplify.” Sound can resonate when broadcast through speakers, and so can an idea or feeling, when expressed articulately or with passion.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

resonate resonates resonated resonating

And that’s what will resonate with you if you are an OG.

From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026

But this year may also illuminate broader forces that continue to resonate long after votes are counted.

From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2026

But if you are showing up, you have to think: Does my brand of comedy still resonate within these limitations?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

"We're building something bold and new that will resonate globally - and we cannot wait to show the world in 2028."

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

Presently her half-vision began to show her the pale forms that Mary was seeing in her dreams, and she adjusted her mind to resonate with them, as if she were tuning a string.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Whether the no-tradeoffs, no-turmoil theme resonates remains to be seen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Now, the Bowdoin College student is campaigning for Collins, explaining in Brunswick after his early morning football practice that her pitch as an independent voice for the state resonates with him.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

When the motion matches the glass's natural frequency, the glass resonates and produces a sound.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

The form tells applicants to answer only “if this resonates with you,” and offers a “decline to state” choice.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Bibi’s voice resonates: “To know yourself, you need to journey, Adaugo. Remember what’s forgotten.”

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

“The more I thought about him as a ‘confidence man’ in all of the meanings of that term, what Justine said really resonated with me,” Gibney says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Asked which part of Hinojosa’s message resonated the most, Ovalle said it was her comments on education.

From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026

"I think that's probably why I resonated with the story when I read the book," Evans said of the novel the series, which is based the book written by Elizabeth Day.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

"In Sweden in particular, the Social Democrats have, in a sense, been the party that built society" and this history still resonated with voters, said Suhonen.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

He had been down the lonely road to those games, where the heartbeat had resonated more spectacularly than in the healthiest newborn.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

How are they communicating their work, their vision and is it resonating with me?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

This seems to be resonating deeply with young people looking for answers.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

The Alaïa embellished flats that were everywhere two summers ago were such a hit that the brand made the shoes in other materials because clearly it’s resonating with shoppers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

“But hey, whatever’s resonating, whatever brings a little bit of joy. Whatever brings a little bit of that stick it to ’em,” she said, doing the thing.

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026

The resonating voice on Radio Biafra filled the room.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• echo
• reverberate
• vibrate