Standard Lemma guide

animate

adj · verb · 15 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: ăn'ĭmət
  • UK: /ˈæn.ɪ.mət/
  • US: ăn'əmət
  • US: /ˈæn.ə.mət/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • UK: ăn'ĭmāt
  • UK: /ˈæn.ɪ.meɪt/
  • US: ăn'əmāt
  • US: /ˈæn.ə.meɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AE1 N AH0 M AH0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: AE1 N AH0 M EY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

That lives.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: alive, living, vital, above ground, alive and kicking, alive and well, animate, animated, extant, kicking, live, lively, livesome, quick, still with us, surviving, undeceased, vitalic

Antonyms: inanimate, lifeless, asleep, at rest, blessed, cadaverous, clay-cold, deceased, resting, decomposed, defunct, departed, expired, extinct, fey, gone, good, inert, kaput, killed, late, living impaired, low, no longer with us, no more, perished, reposing, six feet deep, six feet under, stiff, unalive, unalived, wasted, whilom, with God

2

adj

Meaning 2

That has (or is believed to have) a spirit (anima) and/or some amount of consciousness and sentience, either being alive or supernaturally seeming alive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: animals; ghosts; deities; animals; ghosts; deities

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Possessing the quality or ability of motion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dynamic, kinetic, motile, afoot, animate, astir, cursory, in motion, mobile, moving, on the move, on the wing, under sail, unstill, ambulatory, motive, movable, vagile

Antonyms: inanimate, sessile, static, at rest, dull, impassive, lifeless, motionless, sedent, sedentary, stationary, still, stock-still, torpid, unmoved, unmoving, fixed, immobile, immotile, immovable, inert, rigid, stuck, unmovable, unmoveable

4

adj

Meaning 4

Dynamic, energetic.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • She is an engaging and animate speaker.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lively, perky, vivacious, active, dynamic, energetic, abuzz, agile, airy, alive, animate, animated, brisk, busy, busy as a bee, buxom, buzzing, diligent, driven, driving, eager, effervescent, enthusiastic, expeditious, frisky, gay, genki, glowing, happy, hearty, impetuous, industrious, keen, kinetic, merry, mobile, motivated, moving, nimble, peppy, restive, sassy, snappy, spirited, sprightly, sprunt, spry, vibrant, vigorous, vivid, wanton, youthful, zealous, zestful, zippy

Antonyms: quiescent, sedentary, static, abeyant, at rest, cessant, dormant, dull, fallow, idle, inactive, inert, languid, latent, nonactive, passive, silent, sedent, slow, suspended, torpid, unactive, unbusy, unemployed, unoccupied

5

adj

Meaning 5

having a referent that is considered alive (this generally includes humans, animals and deities, sometimes also plants, spirits, etc.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • Nouns can be singular or plural, and one of two genders, animate or inanimate.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adj

Meaning 6

Inflected to agree with an animate noun or pronoun.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: inanimate

7

verb

Meaning 7

To impart motion or the appearance of motion to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • leaves animated by a stiff breeze
  • If we animate the model, we can see the complexity of the action.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: get going, impel, animate, actuate, drive, force, motivate, press, propel, put in motion, set in motion

Antonyms: halt, stop, stay, anchor, astand, blin, brake, cease, desist, draw up, grind to a halt, hold, immobilize, leave off, rest, stall, stint, swike

8

verb

Meaning 8

To give spirit or vigour to; to stimulate or enliven; to inspirit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: enliven, vitalise, animate, arouse, awaken, beghast, leaven, bright, brighten, cheer, energize, enthuse, exalt, excite, fire up, ginger, ginger up, inflame, invigorate, inspire, inspirit, jazz, kindle, liven, liven up, perk up, quicken, spice, spice up, stimulate, electrify, enflame, enkindle, enthrill, exagitate, exhilarate, exsuscitate, fillip, fire, fire the blood, galvanize, gin up, ignite, intoxicate, rouse, send, set fire to, set on fire, sharpen, stir the blood, suscitate, thrill, wake, warm the blood, whet, wind up, work up, yerk

Antonyms: none provided

9

adjective

Meaning 9

endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness- T.E.Lawrence

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the living knew themselves just sentient puppets on God's stage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sentient

Antonyms: none provided

10

adjective

Meaning 10

endowed with animal life as distinguished from plant life

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • we are animate beings

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: inanimate

11

adjective

Meaning 11

belonging to the class of nouns that denote living beings

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the word `dog' is animate

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: inanimate

12

verb

Meaning 12

give new life or energy to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • A hot soup will revive me
  • This will renovate my spirits
  • This treatment repaired my health

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recreate, reanimate, revive, renovate, repair, quicken, vivify, revivify

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stimulate, arouse, brace, energize, energise, perk up

13

verb

Meaning 13

make lively

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • let's liven up this room a bit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: enliven, liven, liven up, invigorate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stimulate, arouse, brace, energize, energise, perk up

Narrower terms: jazz up, juice up, pep up, ginger up, spirit, spirit up, inspirit

14

verb

Meaning 14

give lifelike qualities to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • animated cartoons

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: animize, animise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

15

verb

Meaning 15

heighten or intensify

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • These paintings exalt the imagination

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inspire, invigorate, enliven, exalt

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stimulate, shake, shake up, excite, stir

Narrower terms: encourage

History

Etymology

From Middle English animat(e), from Latin animātus, perfect passive participle of animō (“to fill with breath, quicken, encourage, animate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from anima (“soul, spirit, breath”); see anima. The verb derives from the adjective, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Across languages

Translations

116 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: حَيّ (ḥayy) — that which lives
  • Belarusian: жывы́ (žyvý) — that which lives
  • Bulgarian: жив (živ) — that which lives
  • Bulgarian: одушеве́н (oduševén) — that which lives
  • Catalan: animat — that which lives
  • Chinese Mandarin: 活的 (huó de) — that which lives
  • Chinese Mandarin: 有生命的 (yǒu shēngmìng de) — that which lives
  • Danish: levende — that which lives
  • Finnish: elävä — that which lives
  • Finnish: elollinen — that which lives
  • Galician: animado — that which lives
  • German: lebendig — that which lives
  • German: beseelt — that which lives
  • Greek: έμψυχος (émpsychos) — that which lives
  • Greek: ζωντανός (zontanós) — that which lives
  • Ancient Greek: ἔμψυχος (émpsukhos) — that which lives
  • Latin: animālis — that which lives
  • Latin: animāns — that which lives
  • Latin: vīvus — that which lives
  • Norwegian Bokmål: levende — that which lives
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: levande — that which lives
  • Old English: cwic — that which lives
  • Old Norse: andligr — that which lives
  • Polish: żywy — that which lives
  • Portuguese: animado — that which lives
  • Russian: живо́й (živój) — that which lives
  • Spanish: animado — that which lives
  • Swedish: levande — that which lives
  • Turkish: canlı — that which lives
  • Turkish: diri — that which lives
  • Ukrainian: живи́й (žyvýj) — that which lives
  • Catalan: animat — possessing the quality or ability of motion
  • Esperanto: animita — possessing the quality or ability of motion
  • Finnish: liikkuva — possessing the quality or ability of motion
  • German: bewegt — possessing the quality or ability of motion
  • Latin: movens — possessing the quality or ability of motion
  • Latin: ambulans — possessing the quality or ability of motion
  • Portuguese: animado — possessing the quality or ability of motion
  • Spanish: animado — possessing the quality or ability of motion
  • Turkish: etkin — possessing the quality or ability of motion
  • Bulgarian: оживе́н (oživén) — dynamic, energetic
  • Bulgarian: енерги́чен (energíčen) — dynamic, energetic
  • Catalan: animat — dynamic, energetic
  • Chinese Mandarin: 有活力的 (yǒu huólì de) — dynamic, energetic
  • Finnish: eloisa — dynamic, energetic
  • Finnish: vireä — dynamic, energetic
  • German: lebhaft — dynamic, energetic
  • Greek: ζωντανός (zontanós) — dynamic, energetic
  • Ancient Greek: ἔμψυχος (émpsukhos) — dynamic, energetic
  • Portuguese: animado — dynamic, energetic
  • Russian: оживлённый esp. of dicussion (oživljónnyj) — dynamic, energetic
  • Russian: talking etc. — dynamic, energetic
  • Russian: энерги́чный (energíčnyj) — dynamic, energetic
  • Russian: живо́й (živój) — dynamic, energetic
  • Turkish: canlı — dynamic, energetic
  • Turkish: dinamik — dynamic, energetic
  • Turkish: faal — dynamic, energetic
  • Turkish: aktif — dynamic, energetic
  • Albanian: frymor — in grammar
  • Arabic: عَاقِل (ʕāqil) — in grammar
  • Armenian: շնչավոր (šnčʻavor) — in grammar
  • Belarusian: адушаўлёны (adušawljóny) — in grammar
  • Belarusian: жывы́ (žyvý) — in grammar
  • Bulgarian: одушеве́н (oduševén) — in grammar
  • Chinese Mandarin: 有生的 (yǒushēng de) — in grammar
  • Czech: životný — in grammar
  • Danish: besjælet — in grammar
  • Dutch: bezield — in grammar
  • Finnish: elollinen — in grammar
  • French: animé — in grammar
  • German: belebt — in grammar
  • Kashmiri: زوٗوؠ (zūv') — in grammar
  • Mongolian: амьтай (amʹtaj) — in grammar
  • Polish: żywotny — in grammar
  • Portuguese: animado — in grammar
  • Russian: одушевлённый (oduševljónnyj) — in grammar
  • Russian: живо́й (živój) — in grammar
  • Slovene: živ — in grammar
  • Swedish: besjälad — in grammar
  • Turkish: canlı — in grammar
  • Ukrainian: живи́й (žyvýj) — in grammar
  • Ukrainian: істо́та (istóta) — in grammar
  • Bulgarian: съживявам (sǎživjavam) — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Bulgarian: анимирам (animiram) — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Catalan: animar — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Danish: animere — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Danish: tegne — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Esperanto: animi — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Finnish: animoida — to impart motion or its appearance
  • French: animer — to impart motion or its appearance
  • German: beleben — to impart motion or its appearance
  • German: animieren — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Greek: ζωντανεύω (zontanévo) — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Ido: animar — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Irish: beoigh — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Irish: beocht a chur i — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Japanese: アニメ化す (animekasu) — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Japanese: アニメーション化す (animēshon kasu) — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Malagasy: manetsika — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Māori: hākori — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Norwegian Bokmål: animere — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: animere — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Polish: animować — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Portuguese: animar — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Romanian: anima — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Romanian: însufleți — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Scottish Gaelic: beothaich — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Serbo-Croatian: аними́рати — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Serbo-Croatian: animírati — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Spanish: animar — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Swedish: animera — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Turkish: canlandırmak — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Turkish: animasyon yapmak — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Welsh: animeiddio — to impart motion or its appearance
  • Spanish: animar — transtive: to give spirit or vigour to
  • Spanish: animarse — reflexive: to give spirit or vigour to oneself
Real reading context

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