animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌa-nə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce animation (audio)
plural animations
1
: the act of animating : the state of being animate or animated
2
: a movie, scene, or sequence that simulates movement from a series of still frames (such as drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of inanimate objects moved incrementally)
His work often condenses stories of intricate subjects into brief looping animations.Paul Tough
The work, titled Bigger Christmas Trees, was created on an iPad and features ten minutes of animation.Julia Binswanger
And as the animation above shows, this tilt causes the Moon's shadow to miss the Earth.Tom Yulsman
3
: the preparation of animation (as for animated cartoons, video games, commercials, etc.)

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
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.
Limestone Animation, a new animation and digital studio out of Ontario, Canada, is behind the adaptation of the author’s horror anthology series. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025 That is the main takeaway from a report issued by Italian TV producers’ association APA during Rome’s MIA market, which is dedicated to international TV series, animation, feature films and documentaries. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025 Meanwhile, the movie's kinetic animation and Ichabod's rubbery physicality playfully contrast with the truly frightening Horseman and his flaming pumpkin. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025 Panelists include actor Sebiye Behtiyar, animation supervisor Nathan Engelhardt, and composer EmmoLei Sankofa, with more to be announced. Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for animation

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of animation was in 1597

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Animation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animation. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

animation

noun
an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌan-ə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce animation (audio)
1
: the state of being animate or animated
2
a
: a film made by photographing a series of positions of objects (as puppets)
3
: the making of animations

Medical Definition

animation

noun
an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌan-ə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce animation (audio)
: the state of being animate or animated see suspended animation

More from Merriam-Webster on animation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!