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
Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
An animated CoComelon film from Universal Pictures is in the works for release the same year.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
When Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward announced his follow-up animated endeavor, few could have predicted the absurdist aberration and psychedelic fever dream that would follow.
—Huntley Woods, EW.com, 9 Aug. 2025
On the most recent episode, the animated Noem was shown, among other things, in an ICE orientation video, first in a chair being made up by a makeup crew.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for animated
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Adjective
As one of several interactive experiences, guests will be able to spin a 3D prize wheel with Luigi, Lavazza’s animated robot, for a chance to win keepsake merch and coffee prizes.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
An animated CoComelon film from Universal Pictures is in the works for release the same year.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
When Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward announced his follow-up animated endeavor, few could have predicted the absurdist aberration and psychedelic fever dream that would follow.
—Huntley Woods, EW.com, 9 Aug. 2025
On the most recent episode, the animated Noem was shown, among other things, in an ICE orientation video, first in a chair being made up by a makeup crew.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 8 Aug. 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 Aug. 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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