reverberate

[verb ri-vur-buh-reyt; adjective ri-vur-ber-it]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reverberate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), re·ver·ber·at·ed, re·ver·ber·at·ing.

to reecho or resound: Her singing reverberated through the house.

Physics. to be reflected many times, as sound waves from the walls of a confined space.

to rebound or recoil.

to be deflected, as flame in a reverberatory furnace.

verb (used with object), re·ver·ber·at·ed, re·ver·ber·at·ing.

to echo back or reecho (sound).

to cast back or reflect (light, heat, etc.).

to subject to reflected heat, as in a reverberatory furnace.

adjective

reverberant.

Nearby words

Origin of reverberate

First recorded in 1540–50, reverberate is from the Latin word reverberātus (past participle of reverberāre to strike back). See reverberant, -ate¹

Related forms

re·ver·ber·a·tive

[ri-vur-buh-rey-tiv, -ber-uh-] /rɪˈvɜr bəˌreɪ tɪv, -bər ə-/, adjectivere·ver·ber·a·tor, nounun·re·ver·ber·at·ed, adjectiveun·re·ver·ber·at·ing, adjective

un·re·ver·ber·a·tive, adjective

Synonyms for reverberate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reverberate ON THESAURUS.COM

1. carry, ring, rebound, vibrate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reverberate

The cartoons zing, whirr, and reverberate harmonically, making each entry a sort of duet.
Well, La Ti Da: Stephin Merritt’s Winning Little Words of Scrabble|David Bukszpan|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The silhouettes seem to reverberate across the room, in a mildly hall-of-mirrors effect.
Mapplethorpe’s Artistic Twin|Sarah Moroz|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the impact of the financial maneuvers that he made to save the company will reverberate for years.
How the Kings of Fracking Double-Crossed Their Way to Riches|ProPublica|March 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Over the weekend this question started to reverberate throughout the media pundit class.
Should Christie Resign from the Republican Governors Association?|Myra Adams|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This has often been referred to as the September 11 moment that will reverberate through the new Star Trek universe.
‘Star Trek’ for Dummies: Get Ready for ‘Into Darkness’ With Our Primer|Sujay Kumar|May 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Although she stifled an outcry the dull thud of her body against the ground seemed actually to reverberate through the forest.
Danger at the Drawbridge|Mildred A. Wirt
You expect the harp to reverberate once again with the old fervors.
Adventures in the Arts|Marsden Hartley
Your conversion will reverberate in their hearts and will leave behind it a deep impression.
The Red and the Black|Stendhal
The horses were in waiting, making each rusty spring reverberate the carriage again with their impatience.
The Man in the Iron Mask|Alexandre Dumas, Pere
Presently the growling of the guns began to reverberate over London.
The Disturbing Charm|Berta Ruck

British Dictionary definitions for reverberate

reverberate

verb

(intr) to resound or re-echothe explosion reverberated through the castle

to reflect or be reflected many times

(intr) to rebound or recoil

(intr) (of the flame or heat in a reverberatory furnace) to be deflected onto the metal or ore on the hearth

(tr) to heat, melt, or refine (a metal or ore) in a reverberatory furnace

Derived Formsreverberant or rare reverberative, adjectivereverberantly, adverbreverberation, noun

Word Origin for reverberate

C16: from Latin reverberāre to strike back, from re- + verberāre to beat, from verber a lash

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for reverberate

1570s, "beat back, drive back, force back," from Latin reverberatus, past participle of reverberare "strike back, repel, cause to rebound" (see reverberation). Meaning "re-echo" is from 1590s. Earlier verb was reverberen (early 15c.). Related: Reverberated; reverberating.

reverberate

verb (used without object), re·ver·ber·at·ed, re·ver·ber·at·ing.

verb (used with object), re·ver·ber·at·ed, re·ver·ber·at·ing.

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of reverberate

Synonyms for reverberate

Examples from the Web for reverberate

reverberate

verb

Word Origin for reverberate