Definition of RESONATE

Resonate vs. Reverberate

Resonate and reverberate each have at least one meaning that is concerned with sound, and they carry a degree of overlap in their definitions. However, there are some subtle differences between them that are worth observing. Resonate typically suggests that a single lasting sound is produced; reverberate, on the other hand, indicates that an initial sound is followed by a series of echoes. In terms of the contexts in which they are used, resonate often involves a person (“that passage of the book resonated with many young readers”); reverberate, on the other hand, is more likely to be used of a thing, such as the aftermath of some major event (“the shock caused by the assassination reverberated across Europe”).

Examples of resonate in a Sentence

The siren resonated throughout the city. the deep sounds of the bassoon resonated through the concert hall

Recent Examples on the Web The message resonated with both ends of Afghan society. — Susannah George, Washington Post, "Afghanistan claims the Islamic State was ‘obliterated.’ But fighters who got away could stage a resurgence.," 9 Feb. 2020 That speech and the Oscar nomination that followed helped boost the film, whose scalding take on wealth disparity resonated with American viewers. — John Jurgensen And Ellen Gamerman, WSJ, "What Five Oscar Nominations Tell Us About the State of Hollywood," 5 Feb. 2020 In an interview in mid-January, Taylor would not confirm the scope of his involvement but said Ghosn's legal case resonated with him because of his previous experiences with the US judicial system, according to the Wall Street Journal. — Yoko Wakatsuki, CNN, "Wanted: 3 men accused of helping Carlos Ghosn escape Japan in a case," 30 Jan. 2020 Fry wasn’t like other coaches, and the difference resonated with Christie. — Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, "Malcolm Christie is one of Hayden Fry’s greatest success stories — a success that goes beyond the gridiron," 25 Jan. 2020 Spread by bots and trolls on social media, and by Russian intelligence officers, the claims resonated with Mr. Trump, who views talk of Russian interference as an attack on his legitimacy. — New York Times, "Russians Hacked Ukrainian Gas Company at Center of Impeachment," 13 Jan. 2020 Her music resonated with both New Mexico music and Tejano audiences, with crossover success in both fields, but music outlets in the broader industry did not fully grasp the extent of her successful career within New Mexico music. — Mario J. Lucero, Quartz, "Music streaming services mishandle our data—and our culture is paying for it," 3 Jan. 2020 The first movie resonated with audiences and critics alike and Blunt was later awarded the best supporting actress honor at the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. — Alexia Fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "Emily Blunt Is Back in A Quiet Place: Part II First Look: Watch the Terrifying New Teaser," 18 Dec. 2019 But the farmers’ objections resonated with Compart, a hog farmer who once had his own farm quarantined for more than two years following suspicion of an outbreak of a disease that affects pigs. — Dave Orrick, Twin Cities, "Regulators to deer farmers: Stop moving deer around (please)," 16 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'resonate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.