an·i·mat·ed
ˈa-nə-ˌmā-təd 
1
2
: having the appearance of something alive
an unusually animated piece of sculpture
3
: made in the form of an animated cartoon
an animated film
animatedly
adverb
animated
2 of 2past and past participle of animate
Did you know?
Animated cartoon characters have been "given life" by film techniques, though the animation of drawings actually goes back to handheld toys in the 1830s. A child watching the cartoon may also be animated—squealing, laughing, and jumping around—as can a crowd of hockey fans or a rock-concert audience. And the best discussions and arguments are often highly animated.
Examples of animated in a Sentence
Adjective
She gave an animated description of the project.
After dinner, the discussion got more animated.
Many movies for kids are animated rather than live-action.
Recent Examples on the Web
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
The United Kingdom, for instance, offers a 25.5% tax rebate on 80% of a production’s expenditures in the UK, with higher rebates for animated and independent films.
—Ali Martin, Christian Science Monitor, 14 June 2025
The new live-action Predator movie looks kind of terrible, but the animated Killer of Killers looks excellent and is already doing well with critics and audiences (98%/88% on Rotten Tomatoes).
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The original run is one of the greatest kid/family/whatever animated comedies of all time.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for animated
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Adjective
For all his success in the animated realm, DeBlois has never directed a live-action film until now.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
The United Kingdom, for instance, offers a 25.5% tax rebate on 80% of a production’s expenditures in the UK, with higher rebates for animated and independent films.
—Ali Martin, Christian Science Monitor, 14 June 2025
The new live-action Predator movie looks kind of terrible, but the animated Killer of Killers looks excellent and is already doing well with critics and audiences (98%/88% on Rotten Tomatoes).
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The original run is one of the greatest kid/family/whatever animated comedies of all time.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for animated
Cite this Entry
“Animated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animated. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
animated
adjective
an·i·mat·ed
ˈan-ə-ˌmāt-əd
1
: full of life and energy : lively
2
: appearing to be alive or moving
3
: made in the form of an animated cartoon
an animated movie
animatedly
adverb
Medical Definition
animated
adjective
an·i·mat·ed
-ˌmāt-əd
1
: endowed with life or the qualities of life
2
: full of movement and activity
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