Standard Lemma guide

dynamic

adj · noun · 16 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.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /daɪˈnæm.ɪk/
  • Canada, General-American: /daɪˈnæm.ɪk/
  • Canada, General-American: [daɪˈnɛəm.ɪk] /æ/ raising
  • California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /dɑeˈnæm.ɪk/
  • Queensland Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • New-Zealand: [dɑe̯ˈnɛm.ək]
  • CMU ARPABET: D AY0 N AE1 M IH0 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Changing; active; in motion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The environment is dynamic, changing with the years and the seasons.
  • dynamic economy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: active, fluid, moving, changeable, changeful, changeling, dynamic, everchanging, fickle, inconstant, labile, mobile, moody, shiftable, up-and-down, unstable, variable, volatile, wavering, afoot, animate, astir, cursory, in motion, on the move, on the wing, under sail, unstill

Antonyms: static

2

adj

Meaning 2

Powerful; energetic.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He was a dynamic and engaging speaker.

Meaning relationships

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

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Able to change and adapt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Having to do with the volume of sound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

Examples

  • The dynamic marking in bar 40 is forte.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Happening at runtime instead of being predetermined at compile time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • dynamic allocation
  • dynamic IP addresses
  • the dynamic resizing of an array

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: static

6

adj

Meaning 6

Pertaining to dynamics, the branch of mechanics concerned with the effects of forces on the motion of objects.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adj

Meaning 7

Of a verb: not stative, but fientive; indicating continued or progressive action on the part of the subject.

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: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A characteristic or manner of an interaction; a behavior.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Watch the dynamic between the husband and wife when they disagree.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

A moving force.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

Examples

  • The study of fluid dynamics quantifies turbulent and laminar flows.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

The varying loudness or volume of a song or the markings that indicate the loudness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

Examples

  • If you pay attention to the dynamics as you play, it's a very moving piece.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

A symbol in a musical score that indicates the desired level of volume.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

A verb that indicates continued or progressive action on the part of the subject.

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: none provided

13

adjective

Meaning 13

(used of verbs (e.g. `to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. `running' in `running water')) expressing action rather than a state of being

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: active

Antonyms: none provided

14

adjective

Meaning 14

characterized by action or forcefulness or force of personality

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a dynamic market
  • a dynamic speaker
  • the dynamic president of the firm

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dynamical

Antonyms: undynamic

15

adjective

Meaning 15

of or relating to dynamics

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

noun

Meaning 16

an efficient incentive

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they hoped it would act as a spiritual dynamic on all churches

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: moral force

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: incentive, inducement, motivator

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dewh2-der. Proto-Hellenic *dunamai Ancient Greek δῠ́νᾰμαι (dŭ́nămai) Ancient Greek δύναμις (dúnamis) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Ancient Greek δυναμικός (dunamikós)lbor. French dynamiqueder. English dynamic From French dynamique, from Ancient Greek δυναμικός (dunamikós, “powerful”), from δύναμις (dúnamis, “power”), from δύναμαι (dúnamai, “I am able”).

Across languages

Translations

87 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: динами́чен (dinamíčen) — not steady; in motion
  • Catalan: dinàmic — not steady; in motion
  • Czech: dynamický — not steady; in motion
  • Dutch: dynamisch — not steady; in motion
  • Dutch: veranderlijk — not steady; in motion
  • French: dynamique — not steady; in motion
  • Georgian: დინამიკური (dinamiḳuri) — not steady; in motion
  • German: dynamisch — not steady; in motion
  • Hebrew: דינמי (dinámi) — not steady; in motion
  • Hindi: क्रियाशील (kriyāśīl) — not steady; in motion
  • Hindi: गतिशील (gatiśīl) — not steady; in motion
  • Hungarian: dinamikus — not steady; in motion
  • Italian: dinamico — not steady; in motion
  • Japanese: 動的 (dōteki) — not steady; in motion
  • Lithuanian: dinamiškas — not steady; in motion
  • Māori: korikori — not steady; in motion
  • Māori: oi — not steady; in motion
  • Persian: پویا (puyâ) — not steady; in motion
  • Persian: دینامیک (dinâmik) — not steady; in motion
  • Polish: dynamiczny — not steady; in motion
  • Portuguese: dinâmico — not steady; in motion
  • Russian: динами́чный (dinamíčnyj) — not steady; in motion
  • Spanish: dinámico — not steady; in motion
  • Swedish: dynamisk — not steady; in motion
  • Ukrainian: динамі́чний (dynamíčnyj) — not steady; in motion
  • Yiddish: דינאַמיש (dinamish) — not steady; in motion
  • Bulgarian: динами́чен (dinamíčen) — powerful
  • Bulgarian: енерги́чен (energíčen) — powerful
  • Catalan: dinàmic — powerful
  • Czech: dynamický — powerful
  • Dutch: dynamisch — powerful
  • French: dynamique — powerful
  • Georgian: დინამიკური (dinamiḳuri) — powerful
  • German: dynamisch — powerful
  • Ancient Greek: δυναμικός (dunamikós) — powerful
  • Hungarian: dinamikus — powerful
  • Irish: fuinniúil — powerful
  • Irish: bríomhar — powerful
  • Italian: dinamico — powerful
  • Polish: dynamiczny — powerful
  • Portuguese: dinâmico — powerful
  • Russian: динами́чный (dinamíčnyj) — powerful
  • Russian: энерги́чный (enɛrgíčnyj) — powerful
  • Russian: напо́ристый (napóristyj) — powerful
  • Spanish: dinámico — powerful
  • Ukrainian: динамі́чний (dynamíčnyj) — powerful
  • Yiddish: דינאַמיש (dinamish) — powerful
  • Bulgarian: променли́в (promenlív) — able to change
  • Dutch: dynamisch — able to change
  • Dutch: dynamische — able to change
  • Finnish: dynaaminen — able to change
  • French: dynamique — able to change
  • Georgian: დინამიკური (dinamiḳuri) — able to change
  • German: veränderlich — able to change
  • German: dynamisch — able to change
  • Hebrew: דינמי (dinámi) — able to change
  • Hebrew: גמיש (gamísh) — able to change
  • Hungarian: dinamikus — able to change
  • Italian: dinamico — able to change
  • Portuguese: dinâmico — able to change
  • Russian: изме́нчивый (izménčivyj) — able to change
  • Spanish: dinámico — able to change
  • Swedish: dynamisk — able to change
  • Yiddish: דינאַמיש (dinamish) — able to change
  • Czech: dynamický — computing: happening at runtime instead of at compile time
  • French: dynamique — computing: happening at runtime instead of at compile time
  • Greek: δυναμικός (dynamikós) — computing: happening at runtime instead of at compile time
  • Icelandic: kviklegur — computing: happening at runtime instead of at compile time
  • Icelandic: kvik- — computing: happening at runtime instead of at compile time
  • Russian: динами́ческий (dinamíčeskij) — computing: happening at runtime instead of at compile time
  • Bulgarian: дина́мика (dinámika) — a behavior
  • Catalan: dinàmica — a behavior
  • Danish: dynamik — a behavior
  • Dutch: dynamiek — a behavior
  • French: dynamique — a behavior
  • German: Dynamik — a behavior
  • Hebrew: דִּינָמִיקָה (dinámika) — a behavior
  • Russian: дина́мика (dinámika) — a behavior
  • Swedish: dynamik — a behavior
  • Ukrainian: дина́міка (dynámika) — a behavior
  • Bulgarian: дина́мика (dinámika) — the varying loudness or volume
  • Dutch: dynamiek — the varying loudness or volume
  • French: dynamique — the varying loudness or volume
  • German: Dynamik — the varying loudness or volume
  • Māori: kahaoro — the varying loudness or volume
  • Russian: дина́мика (dinámika) — the varying loudness or volume
  • German: Dynamik — a symbol in a musical score
Real reading context

dynamic in complete knowledge articles