vivid

[viv-id]

adjective

1. strikingly bright or intense, as color, light, etc..

   a vivid green.

   Synonyms: intense, brilliant, bright

2. full of life; lively; animated.

   a vivid personality.

   Synonyms: intense, vivacious, spirited

3. presenting the appearance, freshness, spirit, etc., of life; realistic.

   a vivid account.

4. strong, distinct, or clearly perceptible.

   a vivid recollection.

5. forming distinct and striking mental images.

   a vivid imagination.

vivid

/ ˈvɪvɪd /

adjective

1. (of a colour) very bright; having a very high saturation or purity; produced by a pure or almost pure colouring agent

2. brilliantly coloured

   vivid plumage

3. conveying to the mind striking realism, freshness, or trueness to life; graphic

   a vivid account

4. (of a recollection, memory, etc) remaining distinct in the mind

5. (of the imagination, etc) prolific in the formation of lifelike images

6. making a powerful impact on the emotions or senses

   a vivid feeling of shame

7. uttered, operating, or acting with vigour

   vivid expostulations

8. full of life or vitality

   a vivid personality

Other Word Forms

• vividly adverb
• vividness noun
• vividity noun
• overvivid adjective
• overvividness noun
• unvivid adjective
• unvividness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vivid¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin vīvidus “lively,” equivalent to vīv(ere) “to live” + -idus adjective suffix; vital, -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of vivid¹

C17: from Latin vīvidus animated, from vīvere to live

Synonym Study

See picturesque.

Example Sentences

His most vivid memory was the time a guard in El Centro gave him extra food because he thought my dad was a bit too skinny.

From Los Angeles Times

The terror of the early January fire remains vivid among school families.

From Los Angeles Times

Kimmel’s monologue may come to stand as a small but vivid turning point in resisting the privatization of censorship.

From Salon

It’s a testament to the production that she’s not only the most vivid character on stage but also the most noble.

From Los Angeles Times

"These are lobsters with a genetic mutation that causes an overproduction of crustacyanin, giving them a vivid, electric blue appearance."

From BBC

Related Words

• animated 
• bright 
• brilliant 
• colorful 
• dramatic 
• eloquent 
• expressive 
• glowing 
• lifelike 
• lively 
• lucid 
• meaningful 
• memorable 
• realistic 
• rich 
• sharp 
• striking 
• telling 
• theatrical