resonate
Americanverb (used without object)
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to resound.
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Electronics. to reinforce oscillations because the natural frequency of the device is the same as the frequency of the source.
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to amplify vocal sound by the sympathetic vibration of air in certain cavities and bony structures.
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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.
verb (used with object)
verb
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to resound or cause to resound; reverberate
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(of a mechanical system, electrical circuit, chemical compound, etc) to exhibit or cause to exhibit resonance
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to be understood or receive a sympathetic response
themes which will resonate with voters
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to be filled with
simple words that seem to resonate with mystery and beauty
Other Word Forms
- resonation noun
- unresonating adjective
Etymology
Origin of resonate
First recorded in 1870–75; from Latin resonātus “sounded again,” past participle of resonāre “to sound again”; resound
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.
Talking tough against our oldest allies may resonate with a narrow slice of the president’s base, but to a broader audience it raises uncomfortable questions.
From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026
Wars are inherently unpredictable and their outcome and their legacy can resonate for decades.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
Atwood says the experience made her newly aware of how much the awards still resonate beyond Hollywood.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026
Pixarians, frustrated that their streaming releases didn’t resonate more, grew panicked after the flop of their first film back in theaters, 2022’s “Toy Story” spin-off “Lightyear.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026
In fact they will form a cavity between them, a bit like an organ pipe that will resonate only at certain notes.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
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.
