resonate

verb res·o·nate \ ˈre-zə-ˌnāt \

|Updated on: 31 Jul 2018

Examples: resonate in a Sentence

Editor's Note: resonate vs. reverberate

Definition of resonate

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

See resonate defined for English-language learners

See resonate defined for kids

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 of resonate from the Web

Victoria's Secret, the flagship beauty and lingerie line for L Brands Inc., LB -1.95% simply isn’t resonating with shoppers.

— micah maidenberg, WSJ, "Investors Punish L Brands After Victoria Secret’s Weakness," 12 July 2018
Dilution is not a dirty word, and the idea that somehow entrepreneur founders should get something valuable for free does not resonate with this aging angel investor.

— neil senturia, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Ad Astra accelerator gives female-led San Diego startups a boost," 2 July 2018
The 2016 hair incident epitomized an eager-to-please style that valued games and stunts over substance, which served Fallon well before Trump's political arrival but hasn't resonated at a time when avoiding controversy doesn't always pay dividends.

— bill keveney, USA TODAY, "Comedy scorecard: Winners and losers in the Trump era," 27 June 2018
Therapy experience is unique for everyone, and what works for one person may not resonate with another.

— janina scarlet, SELF, "WTF Is Superhero Therapy, and Should You Try It?," 19 June 2018
The idea that leadership may involve addressing concerns of others, sometimes at the expense of oneself, did not resonate.

— karen j. alter, Washington Post, "Trump’s tariffs aren’t the biggest trade problem. Will China step up to protect the WTO?," 18 June 2018
The first statement does not resonate unless balanced by the latter.

— rabbi avi weiss, Jewish Journal, "Leaders must learn to keep their egos in check," 18 June 2018
The result of the comparatively unconventional edgier look — combined with her jaw-dropping alt films — was a phenomenon that resonated with fans.

— jamie beckman, Allure, "Sasha Grey on How Her Signature Makeup Has Shaped Her Extensive Career," 14 June 2018
And an opponent who largely staked her campaign on a message about a Georgia scholarship that didn't resonate with voters.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "What Stacey Abrams' massive primary win means for her chances to be the nation's first black woman governor," 23 May 2018

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.

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”).

First Known Use of resonate

1873

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

resonate Synonyms

Synonyms

echo, reecho, resound, reverberate, sound;

Near Antonyms

damp, dampen, deaden, dull, quiet;

Related Words

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

RESONATE Defined for English Language Learners

resonate

verb

Definition of resonate for English Language Learners

: to continue to produce a loud, clear, deep sound for a long time
: to have particular meaning or importance for someone : to affect or appeal to someone in a personal or emotional way

Learn More about resonate

See words that rhyme with resonate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for resonate Nglish: Translation of resonate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of resonate for Arabic speakers

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