animated

1 of 2

adjective

an·​i·​mat·​ed ˈa-nə-ˌmā-təd 

1

a

: endowed with life or the qualities of life : alive

animated creatures

b

: full of movement and activity

an animated crowd

c

: full of vigor and spirit : lively

an animated discussion

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 2

past 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.

Synonyms

Adjective

• animate
• lively
• energetic
• active
• brisk

Choose the Right Synonym for animated

lively, animated, vivacious, sprightly, gay mean keenly alive and spirited.

lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

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

Adjective

At the end of the movie, the trio perform the song as themselves — the only non-animated artists featured. —Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025

Those episodes were made with the company's proprietary AI engine, fine-tuned for animated storytelling. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025

The movie, created with partners Native Foreign and Vertigo Films, is being produced in just nine months on a budget under $30 million—far less than typical animated features—and is slated to debut at Cannes before a global 2026 release. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025

The animated series touches on the relationships between fathers and sons, prompting Yeun, as the lead actor, to reflect on his own fatherhood journey. —Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see animate entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing animated

• animated cartoon

Rhymes for animated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggravated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated

Kids 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