dynamic

1 of 2

adjective

dy·​nam·​ic dī-ˈna-mik How to pronounce dynamic (audio)
1
a
: marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change
a dynamic city
b
: energetic, forceful
a dynamic personality
2
or less commonly dynamical
a
: of or relating to physical force or energy
b
: of or relating to dynamics (see dynamics entry 1)
3
of random-access memory : requiring periodic refreshment of charge in order to retain data
dynamically adverb

dynamic

2 of 2

noun

plural dynamics
: a force or factor that controls or influences a process of growth, change, interaction, or activity : a dynamic force or factor
a social/cultural/interpersonal dynamic
… describes a world order that seems to be evolving from ideology as the principal dynamicWoody West
Denial has always been the most devastating social and political dynamic of the AIDS epidemic …June E. Osborn
Still, one wonders, Is there a way to achieve … results without some of the extraneous nastiness, the relentless controlling dynamic?Jack McCallum
see also dynamics entry 1

Examples of dynamic in a Sentence

Adjective … tournament blackjack is more dynamic, and more complex, than simply playing against the house. Michael Kaplan, Cigar Aficionado, December 2002
Indeed, one of the most dynamic influences on family life and society in the last century was the extension of concepts to individual worth and human rights. Perdita Huston, Ms., December 2001/January 2002
The new dynamic duo have little in common but a bright orange ball. Stephen Rodrick, ESPN, 3 Apr. 2000
an exciting and dynamic performance the dynamic theory of heat Noun … the high-tech world is, at heart, a cruel, unforgiving place ruled by the merciless dynamics of the marketplace. Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, 27 June 2002
… my memory of specific events is sketchy, but the general emotional flavor is engraved on my mind as a classic example of my family's bent dynamic. Florence King, National Review, 15 Oct. 2001
… the Cambrian Explosion, created the evolutionary dynamic that produced most of the species that subsequently populated the earth, from insects and fish to dinosaurs and humans. J. Madeleine Nash, Time, 20 Aug. 2001
Raisons d'état, not the dynamics of capitalism, created the American thrust for world influence. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986
the dynamic between a doctor and a patient Group dynamics are important to consider. The dynamics of this class are different from those of other classes. Disease was a central dynamic in the decrease in population. a study on famine and population dynamics
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Taurus Combative Aries and calm, cooperative Taurus can make an unlikely dynamic duo. Katie Mannion, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 The variables could be set at dynamic values ranging from zero to one, and could act as an accelerator or decelerator for various behaviors. Patrick House, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 In order to decide on the Karman line, experts agreed that space should start at the point where orbital dynamic forces are more important than aerodynamic forces. Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 Sarah Edwards, the dynamic CEO of MN Fashion Week, also played a crucial role in propelling my business forward. Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024 So that’s always the goal: to have a dynamic character that changes in that way and resonates emotionally with the audience. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024 Castellanos is one to watch, as the 24-year-old Venezuelan international is a dynamic scoring threat with experience at Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 The rotating menu at her small East Austin bakery explores and celebrates this dynamic, as Camacho puts her spin on everything from alfajores to apple fritters. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2024 What Wilson discovered early on was that the synchronicity of the music’s arrival to the listener’s ear could not only affect clarity and soundstage but also dynamic contrast and timbre. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
With a merge approaching, the existing dynamics between players is sure to erupt when every survivor has to go to tribal council. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 Lewis takes readers into Taylor and Burton’s collaborations on screen, their infamous breakups and entourage and offers his own perspective on their dynamic. Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 Each presidential election cycle has its own dynamics, making comparisons to prior campaigns difficult. Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024 The dynamic between Japanese and US rates is set to continue despite the BOJ’s hike given ongoing strength in the US economy and resilient consumer spending there. Toru Fujioka, Fortune Asia, 19 Mar. 2024 This is about dads and daughters, and the ancient and protective dynamic between them that seems to override logic. Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024 The young-adult cast and a corresponding accent on power dynamics would lend the 17th century epic a more contemporary look and feel, explained show creator Alain Tasma. Ben Croll, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 What hooks viewers are the family dynamics but perhaps also just the Maine of it all. Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 The resulting data will help measure the sun’s oblateness, or how much it has been flattened into a more elliptical shape by its rotation and internal dynamics, from solar tides to flows of gas. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dynamic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French dynamique or New Latin dynamicus "relating to physical force or energy," borrowed from Greek dynamikós "powerful, efficacious," from dýnamis "power, strength, capability" (i-stem derivative, with suffixal -m-, of dýnamai, dýnasthai "to be able, have the strength or capability (to do something), be equivalent to," of uncertain origin) + -ikos -ic entry 1

Note: French dynamique and New Latin dynamicus were popularized, if not introduced, by Gottfried Wilhelm leibniz. The Greek verb dýnamai appears to have been an original nasal present with the -n- infix generalized throughout the paradigm. If an Indo-European base *deu̯h2- (or *deh2u̯-?) "to fit together, join" is reconstructible on the basis of Tocharian B tsuwa "(it) adhered, cohered," Germanic *taujan- "to prepare, make" (see taw entry 1), then dy-n-a- may be allied; assumed is an approximate sense development "be joined" > "fit, be suitable" > "be capable."

Noun

borrowed from French dynamique, noun derivative of dynamique dynamic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1744, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dynamic was in 1744

Dictionary Entries Near dynamic

Cite this Entry

“Dynamic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dynamic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dynamic

adjective
dy·​nam·​ic
dī-ˈnam-ik
1
also dynamical
-ˈnam-i-kəl
a
: of or relating to physical force or energy
b
: of or relating to dynamics
2
a
: always active or changing
a dynamic city
b
: marked by energy : forceful
a dynamic personality
dynamically
-ˈnam-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

Medical Definition

dynamic

adjective
dy·​nam·​ic dī-ˈnam-ik How to pronounce dynamic (audio)
1
also dynamical
a
: of or relating to physical force or energy
b
: of or relating to dynamics
2
: functional sense 1b
a dynamic disease
3
a
: marked by continuous usually productive activity or change
a dynamic population
b
: marked by energy or forcefulness
a dynamic personality
dynamically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on dynamic

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