resonate

verb

res·​o·​nate ˈre-zə-ˌnāt How to pronounce resonate (audio)
resonated; resonating

intransitive verb

1
: to produce or exhibit resonance
2
: to respond as if by resonance
resonate to the music
also : to have a repetitive pattern that resembles resonance
3
: to relate harmoniously : strike a chord
a message that resonates with voters

transitive verb

: to subject to resonating

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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 emotional lyrics resonated with creators, while learning the piano arrangement soon became a trend of its own. Mike Wass, Variety, 28 Nov. 2023 Listening More Than Speaking One of the paramount lessons from improv that resonated deeply with my business journey is perhaps the most counterintuitive: Improv is about listening, not speaking. Roman Pedan, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 The book had resonated for so many people, so the pressure of getting that right was enormous. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2023 Hurricane names—Katrina, Sandy, Ian, Maria—can resonate for years after the storm has passed. Richard Vanderford, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023 Loud cheers resonated from the SpaceX webcast, which was streaming from the company’s headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif. Half a minute later, there was a bigger flash when the booster — which was to splash in the Gulf of Mexico and sink — exploded. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023 And the warnings may not resonate with voters worried that their salaries haven’t kept up with inflation and who have seen their savings vanish as the Argentine peso plummeted. David Feliba, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023 These facts, however, seem to resonate very little in angling communities. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 16 Nov. 2023 This is a definite must for readers, young and old, offering a compelling story that resonates with the human spirit and the beauty of cross-cultural connections. Roxsy Lin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of resonate was in 1873

Dictionary Entries Near resonate

Cite this Entry

“Resonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resonate. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

resonate

verb
res·​o·​nate ˈrez-ᵊn-ˌāt How to pronounce resonate (audio)
resonated; resonating
1
: to produce or exhibit resonance
2
a
: to respond as if by resonance
resonate to the music
b
: to strike a chord
a message that resonates with voters

More from Merriam-Webster on resonate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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