reverberate

verb

re·ver·ber·ate | \ri-ˈvər-bə-ˌrāt

reverberated; reverberating

Definition of reverberate

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : reflect

2 : repel

3 : echo

intransitive verb

1a : to become driven back

b : to become reflected

2 : to continue in or as if in a series of echoes : resound a historic event that still reverberates today

reverberate

adjective

re·ver·ber·ate | \ri-ˈvər-b(ə-)rət

Definition of reverberate (Entry 2 of 2)

: reverberant

Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about reverberate

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Synonyms for reverberate

Synonyms: Verb

echo, reecho, resonate, resound, sound

Did You Know?

Verb

The letter sequence "v-e-r-b" in reverberate might make you think at first of such word-related brethren as proverb, verbal, and verbose, all of which derive from the Latin noun verbum, meaning "word." In fact, reverberate comes from a much different source: the Latin verb verberare, meaning "to whip, beat, or lash," which is related to the noun verber, meaning "rod." Reverberate entered the English language in the 15th century, and one of its early meanings was "to beat, drive, or cast back." By the early 1600s it began to appear in contexts associated with sound that repeats or returns the way an echo does.

Examples of reverberate in a Sentence

Verb

the sound of thunder reverberated from one end of the mountain pass to the other

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Their winner-take-all business models have reverberating effects across markets in Silicon Valley. — Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica, "Study: Over 20 years, Silicon Valley workers’ median wage has fallen by 14%," 23 Nov. 2018 At least 10 percent of people living in the United States believe that the number 13 reverberates bad juju. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "Why Do People Think the Number 13 Is Unlucky? Let's Talk About Triskaidekaphobia," 29 Aug. 2018 Did you, too, just hear the collective cry reverberating across the pond? — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, "London’s Favorite Celebrity Facialist Opens a New Skin-Care Studio in Tribeca," 24 Aug. 2018 Louis Johnson, Boquet’s father and Brown’s boyfriend, said the collision has reverberated across the Tacoma community. — Christine Clarridge, The Seattle Times, "Seven members of Washington family dead in head-on Oregon crash," 15 Aug. 2018 The victories reverberated beyond Minnesota, Noor said. — Steve Karnowski, Fox News, "Victory offers Muslim candidate new platform to oppose Trump," 15 Aug. 2018 That is the realization now reverberating through the world’s financial markets. — Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, "Geopolitics Trumps the Markets," 29 Oct. 2018 For the coming week, the Uffizi will host an immersive installation that will allow visitors to relive that night — May 27, 1993 — when a blast close to the museum reverberated through the narrow medieval streets and arches. — New York Times, "Florence’s Answer to Mafia Violence: A Painting’s Loving Restoration," 25 May 2018 Courtney Smith's attorney did not comment on Thursday as Ohio State's decision reverberated through the sports world. — Fox News, "Ohio State probe shows Meyer allowed bad behavior by assistant for years," 24 Aug. 2018

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