animated

1 of 2

adjective

an·​i·​mat·​ed ˈa-nə-ˌmā-təd How to pronounce animated (audio)
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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
But The Times reported that Depp became more animated when talking about his public battles with his ex-wife Amber Heard, which involved two messy, salacious court fights that focused on her physical abuse allegations and his excessive drinking. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 June 2025 And yet, no animated film has had quite the staying power as Spirited Away, which seems likely to make the overall list’s top ten and featured on the lists of Bryce Dallas Howard, Molly Ringwald, and John Turturro. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 June 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for animated

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see animate entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of animated was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Animated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animated. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

animated

adjective
an·​i·​mat·​ed ˈan-ə-ˌmāt-əd How to pronounce animated (audio)
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 How to pronounce animated (audio)
1
: endowed with life or the qualities of life
2
: full of movement and activity

More from Merriam-Webster on animated

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