resonate

verb

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res·o·nate | \ ˈre-zə-ˌnāt

resonated; resonating

Definition of resonate

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

Synonyms Resonate vs. Reverberate More Example Sentences Learn More about resonate

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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 Seek out the type of innovations that simultaneously resonate with your customer and meet real business needs. — Tim Mitrovich, Forbes, "Innovation: How To Avoid A Flop," 4 Mar. 2021 Rugby is just one of those games that really resonate with players throughout the world. — Emmett Hall, sun-sentinel.com, "Ruggerfest 10’s Tournament brings fun and camaraderie to the pitch," 25 Feb. 2021 Some global health issues that especially resonate with Harris, in addition to addressing the pandemic, are maternal health, children's health and food and water insecurity. — Tim Perry, CBS News, "Kamala Harris plans to prioritize cybersecurity and global health in foreign policy platform," 24 Feb. 2021 The shows will feature local voices and stories that will resonate with those in Arizona and the West. — Megan Finnerty, The Arizona Republic, "Virtual Storytellers Project 2021 season announced with a mix of Arizona, regional shows," 12 Feb. 2021 Was there a specific scene that did resonate with you? — refinery29.com, "Malcolm & Marie Hates Film Criticism — Here’s What Two Film Critics Hate About Malcolm & Marie," 8 Feb. 2021 The first Catholic to be elected president since John F. Kennedy, Biden has repeatedly referenced his faith throughout his time in office and 2020 campaign, citing hymns and scripture that resonate with him. — Natalia Alamdari, USA TODAY, "Joe Biden was sworn in on a massive Bible with a long family history. Here's the story behind it.," 20 Jan. 2021 The key ingredient to making tamales is in la tamalada, or the family gathering itself, explained Saenz, who has written poems that resonate with the loss around him today. — Dallas News, "Christmastime without mothers, grandmothers, and the tamales," 20 Dec. 2020 Their efforts reflect themes that may resonate more this year – compassion, confidence, and even heartbreak. — The Christian Science Monitor, "From H.E.R. to Taylor Swift, women deliver the best songs of 2020," 18 Dec. 2020

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.