animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌa-nə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the act of animating : the state of being animate or animated

2

: animated cartoon

3

: the preparation of animated cartoons

Synonyms

• briskness
• exuberance
• jazziness
• liveliness
• lustiness
• peppiness
• robustness
• sprightliness
• vibrance
• vibrancy
• vigorousness
• vitality

Examples of animation in a Sentence

The animation for the film took over two years to complete.

The studio used computer animation for some of the special effects.

The website has hundreds of animations you can download.

Recent Examples on the Web

Using bursts of animation, Howard brings Henson’s early sketches and pictures to life and establishes an off-kilter rhythm that matches reasonably well with the jazzy chaos of Henson’s aesthetic. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 May 2024

Another piece that feels most integral to the show, as first seen, is an epic-length animation of the Grateful Dead’s Steal Your Face skeleton, rising from the grave, doing a little jig and grinningly mounting a motorcycle to go journeying through a psychedelic landscape. —Chris Willman, Variety, 17 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing animation

• suspended animation
• with animation

Kids Definition

animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌan-ə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the state of being animate or animated

2

a

: a film made by photographing a series of positions of objects (as puppets)

b

: animated cartoon

3

: the making of animations

Medical Definition

animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌan-ə-ˈmā-shən 

: the state of being animate or animated see suspended animation