dynamic

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adjective

dy·nam·ic dī-ˈna-mik

Synonyms of dynamic next

: marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change

a dynamic city

: energetic, forceful

a dynamic personality

or less commonly dynamical

dī-ˈna-mi-kəl

: of or relating to physical force or energy

: of or relating to dynamics (see dynamics entry 1)

of random-access memory : requiring periodic refreshment of charge in order to retain data

dynamically

dī-ˈna-mi-k(ə-)lē

adverb

dynamic

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noun

plural dynamics

: a force or factor that controls or influences a process of growth, change, interaction, or activity : a dynamic force or factor

a social/cultural/interpersonal dynamic

… describes a world order that seems to be evolving from ideology as the principal dynamic …—

Woody West

Denial has always been the most devastating social and political dynamic of the AIDS epidemic …—

June E. Osborn

Still, one wonders, Is there a way to achieve … results without some of the extraneous nastiness, the relentless controlling dynamic?—

Jack McCallum

Example Sentences

Adjective … tournament blackjack is more dynamic, and more complex, than simply playing against the house. —

Michael Kaplan, Cigar Aficionado, December 2002

Indeed, one of the most dynamic influences on family life and society in the last century was the extension of concepts to individual worth and human rights. —

Perdita Huston, Ms., December 2001/January 2002

The new dynamic duo have little in common but a bright orange ball. —

Stephen Rodrick, ESPN, 3 Apr. 2000

an exciting and dynamic performance the dynamic theory of heat Noun … the high-tech world is, at heart, a cruel, unforgiving place ruled by the merciless dynamics of the marketplace. —

Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, 27 June 2002

… my memory of specific events is sketchy, but the general emotional flavor is engraved on my mind as a classic example of my family's bent dynamic. —

Florence King, National Review, 15 Oct. 2001

… the Cambrian Explosion, created the evolutionary dynamic that produced most of the species that subsequently populated the earth, from insects and fish to dinosaurs and humans. —

J. Madeleine Nash, Time, 20 Aug. 2001

Raisons d'état, not the dynamics of capitalism, created the American thrust for world influence. —

Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986

the dynamic between a doctor and a patient Group dynamics are important to consider. The dynamics of this class are different from those of other classes. Disease was a central dynamic in the decrease in population. a study on famine and population dynamics See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Design will feature dynamic courtyards, rooftop areas and beach clubs so guests can enjoy the best of outdoor living. —

Angelina Villa-clarke, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023 Cooking in the oven is quick, easy, and makes the textures and tastes dynamic! —

Neha Tandon, Women's Health, 27 Mar. 2023 Additionally, Pittsburgh’s dynamic culinary scene and substantial cultural district create an environment that's alluring to young families. —

Giovanna Caravetta, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2023 Friend of a Friend Created by dynamic duo Jason Mei and Kristi Pagdanganan, Friend of a Friend Studio offers limited edition collections inspired by the creators' travels and includes unique fashion-forward accessories and clothing. —

Shanon Maglente, Good Housekeeping, 24 Mar. 2023 Coat your wood fence in a dynamic black paint hue, like Benjamin Moore's Onyx, or employ a traditional charring technique like shou sugi ban. —

Alyssa Longobucco, House Beautiful, 24 Mar. 2023 But Lewis is no stranger to garnering attention with her dynamic performances. —

Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2023 The pop-up was a dynamic installation inspired by Splash’s T-Pain commercial, where guests could take fun GIFs with friends in front of a colorful backdrop. —

Matt Tighe, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2023 Flexibility is essential because living with autism is a dynamic process. —

John Elder Robison, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023

Noun

Employees have never had the power to demand those types of schedule changes, however — a dynamic that reversed somewhat during the widespread upheaval and labor shortages of the COVID-19 pandemic. —

Caitlin Dewey, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Mar. 2023 Resistance to bigger development is a familiar dynamic in suburbs like Scarsdale, where single-family homes and sprawl are distinctive features. —

Michael D. Regan, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2023 Even all those years later, Frankie still longs for Fran, and the two have a dynamic that continues to ruffle Leo’s feathers. —

Charna Flam, Variety, 24 Mar. 2023 They aren’t chosen to create a spiky point-counterpoint dynamic; their perspectives are unique but tend to complement each other. —

Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2023 Grand Blanc was a very difficult team to prepare for because of the dynamics of their team. —

Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2023 Mean Girls — both the original movie and the musical — follows teenager Cady Heron, who moves from Africa with her scientist parents to the suburbs of Illinois, where she gets swept up in the dynamics of her new high school’s social hierarchy. —

Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2023 As the shifting power dynamics of the past decade in the South China Sea demonstrate, the latter scenario renders China a powerful advantage over America. —

WSJ, 23 Mar. 2023 There is a more unusual dynamic there than there is in the office, for sure. —

Megan Leonhardt, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dynamic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French dynamique or New Latin dynamicus "relating to physical force or energy," borrowed from Greek dynamikós "powerful, efficacious," from dýnamis "power, strength, capability" (i-stem derivative, with suffixal -m-, of dýnamai, dýnasthai "to be able, have the strength or capability (to do something), be equivalent to," of uncertain origin) + -ikos -ic entry 1

Note: French dynamique and New Latin dynamicus were popularized, if not introduced, by Gottfried Wilhelm leibniz. The Greek verb dýnamai appears to have been an original nasal present with the -n- infix generalized throughout the paradigm. If an Indo-European base *deu̯h₂- (or *deh₂u̯-?) "to fit together, join" is reconstructible on the basis of Tocharian B tsuwa "(it) adhered, cohered," Germanic *taujan- "to prepare, make" (see taw entry 1), then dy-n-a- may be allied; assumed is an approximate sense development "be joined" > "fit, be suitable" > "be capable."