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

Although this framework provided useful insights, it did not explain why some long-term memories last for weeks while others remain vivid for decades.

Read more on Science Daily

Although his public persona was quite vivid—convivial, erudite but unpretentious, articulate, and unfailingly charming—he did not imbue his buildings with a distinctive graphic sensibility.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Welty’s novels and short stories are still celebrated for their richly described landscapes of her native South and their equally vivid view of the inner lives of her characters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The rocks are densely covered by Bathymodiolus mussels, tube worms, shrimp, amphipods, and vivid purple sea cucumbers.

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As a result, vivid auroras appeared in places that rarely experience them.

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Related Words

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