resonate
Americanverb (used without object)
-
resonates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
resonated,
past participle, past
-
resonating
present participle
-
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)
-
resonates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
resonated,
past participle, past
-
resonating
present participle
verb
-
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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resonatesimple
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resonatessimple
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have resonatedperfect
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has resonatedperfect
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am resonatingprogressive
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are resonatingprogressive
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is resonatingprogressive
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have been resonatingperfect progressive
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has been resonatingperfect progressive
Past
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resonatedsimple
-
had resonatedperfect
-
was resonatingprogressive
-
were resonatingprogressive
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had been resonatingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing resonate
A Long Way Gone
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
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This Week in Words: September 17 - 24, 2017
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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.
See Examples For:
The region between Earth's surface and the ionosphere can naturally resonate with electromagnetic waves, much like a large cavity.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
In a glittering career, Brownlee said the moments that resonate most are London 2012 and the World Series coming to his home city of Leeds in 2016.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
So that lyric kind of does resonate with NCT 127 as a whole.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
But almost 20 years later, his ideas and legacy resonate strongly.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
Just as Edward could feel Lucy’s whimpers and growls resonate through his body at night, he could also feel the deep, sad sound of Bull’s songs move through him.
From "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo
It resonates in part because pregnant women are routinely handed absolutes with little explanation and expected to comply, so permission to have a little leeway is a welcome relief.
From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026
Venegas has found that his experience as a Mexican American who didn’t grow up speaking Spanish resonates with some people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
"It's a devastating and sad feeling that resonates with everyone who was here," said Nahed al-Hassayna, as he showed the BBC the rubble of his family's living room.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Professional creators with huge followings can no longer guarantee their audience will see the ads they post, while the work of creators with tiny followings can go viral if their content resonates enough, said Archer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
“Indeed, something resonates in you now, doesn’t it?”
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019, then in his mid-30s, and has described how the Church resonated with his family and social values and his conservative politics.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
But her open-hearted grace and ability to take such slights in stride resonated with everyday folks otherwise overlooked by upper-crust tastemakers.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
For Cash App, the move into Tags was an opportunity to double down on the customizability that already resonated with cardholders.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026
Her original story resonated with older job seekers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Nico felt as if he was standing on the goddess’s throat - as if the entire length of Long Island resonated with her vocal cords.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
“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
T-Mobile’s value proposition is resonating with customers, said Chief Executive Srini Gopalan, adding that the company sees further growth ahead in both wireless and broadband as it continues to invest in its network and technology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
So far, the approach appears to be resonating with consumers.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
The company is revamping its stores and improving its selection, and those moves are resonating with shoppers.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
“Human,” she intoned, her voice suddenly resonating with bass tones.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
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.
