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definitions

vivid

[viv-id]
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adjective

strikingly bright or intense, as color, light, etc.: a vivid green.
full of life; lively; animated: a vivid personality.
presenting the appearance, freshness, spirit, etc., of life; realistic: a vivid account.
strong, distinct, or clearly perceptible: a vivid recollection.
forming distinct and striking mental images: a vivid imagination.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Origin of vivid

1630–40; < Latin vīvidus lively, equivalent to vīv(ere) to live (see vital) + -idus -id4
Related formsviv·id·ly, adverbviv·id·ness, vi·vid·i·ty, nouno·ver·viv·id, adjectiveo·ver·viv·id·ly, adverbo·ver·viv·id·ness, nounun·viv·id, adjectiveun·viv·id·ly, adverbun·viv·id·ness, noun

Synonyms for vivid

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vivid ON THESAURUS.COM
1. bright, brilliant, intense. 2. spirited, vivacious, intense. 3. See picturesque.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vivid

Contemporary Examples of vivid

Historical Examples of vivid

  • Weeks passed away, and with them the vivid memories of that time.

    Life in London

    Edwin Hodder

  • At this revelation a vivid blush glowed on Gracie Dennis' cheek.

  • This is so broad, however, that it may not make a direct and vivid impression.

  • The vivid beauty of her blush startled him, and she drew her hand quickly from his.

  • Simultaneously he received a vivid mental photograph of the locality.

    The Black Bag

    Louis Joseph Vance

British Dictionary definitions for vivid

vivid

adjective

(of a colour) very bright; having a very high saturation or purity; produced by a pure or almost pure colouring agent
brilliantly colouredvivid plumage
conveying to the mind striking realism, freshness, or trueness to life; graphica vivid account
(of a recollection, memory, etc) remaining distinct in the mind
(of the imagination, etc) prolific in the formation of lifelike images
making a powerful impact on the emotions or sensesa vivid feeling of shame
uttered, operating, or acting with vigourvivid expostulations
full of life or vitalitya vivid personality
Derived Formsvividly, adverbvividness, noun

Word Origin for vivid

C17: from Latin vīvidus animated, from vīvere to live
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 vivid
adj.

1630s, from Latin vividus "spirited, animated, lively," from vivus "alive," from PIE *gwei- (see vital). Extension to colors is first recorded 1660s. Sense of "strong, distinct" (as of memories, etc.) is from 1680s; that of "very active or intense" (as of imagination, interest, etc.) is from 1853. Related: Vividly; vividness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper