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vibrant

[vahy-bruh nt]
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adjective
  1. moving to and fro rapidly; vibrating.
  2. vibrating so as to produce sound, as a string.
  3. (of sounds) characterized by perceptible vibration; resonant; resounding.
  4. pulsating with vigor and energy: the vibrant life of a large city.
  5. vigorous; energetic; vital: a vibrant personality.
  6. exciting; stimulating; lively: vibrant colors; a vibrant performance.
  7. Phonetics. made with tonal vibration of the vocal cords; voiced.
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noun
  1. Phonetics. a vibrant sound.
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Origin of vibrant

1540–50; < Latin vibrant- (stem of vibrāns), present participle of vibrāre to shake, move to and fro; see -ant
Related formsvi·bran·cy, vi·brance, nounvi·brant·ly, adverbun·vi·brant, adjectiveun·vi·brant·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for vibrancy

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Her arm brushed him and the vibrancy of her being sang through him.

    The Premiere

    Richard Sabia

  • Oddly enough, thought of her now filled him with a vibrancy, with a longing.

    The Ten-foot Chain

    Achmed Abdullah

  • When they are properly used, their vibrancy is a substitute for any amount of power.

    How to Sing

    Lilli Lehmann

  • The sounds of the city were deadened here to a dull rumble, while the vibrancy of the autumn afternoon excited his taut nerves.

    The Dust Flower

    Basil King

  • In order to learn to organize his material, he has doubtlessly unconsciously lessened its density and vibrancy for the time being.

    Musical Portraits

    Paul Rosenfeld

British Dictionary definitions for vibrancy

vibrant

adjective
  1. characterized by or exhibiting vibration; pulsating or trembling
  2. giving an impression of vigour and activity
  3. caused by vibration; resonant
  4. (of colour) strong and vivid
  5. phonetics trilled or rolled
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noun
  1. a vibrant speech sound, such as a trilled (r)
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Derived Formsvibrancy, nounvibrantly, adverb

Word Origin

C16: from Latin vibrāre to agitate
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 vibrancy

vibrant

adj.

1550s, "agitated," from Latin vibrantem (nominative vibrans) "swaying," present participle of vibrare "move to and fro" (see vibrate). Meaning "vigorous, full of life" is first recorded 1860. Related: Vibrantly.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper