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

If the parties can’t come to terms, the Spurs could be forced to trade him in a blockbuster deal that would reverberate around the NBA. — Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, "Spurs trade history includes several blockbusters," 26 May 2018 As news reverberated around the football world, people close to Jackson basked in his joy. — Childs Walker, baltimoresun.com, "Lamar Jackson pick capped emotional first night in Ravens war room," 27 Apr. 2018 The Grateful Dead created a communal, counterculture vibe that has reverberated and endured long past the period in which it was born. Graciously Departed recount the Dead’s unique musical revelations in concert. — Bob Kostanczuk, Post-Tribune, "Graciously Departed captures free spirit of Grateful Dead concerts," 19 Apr. 2018 What began with a few brave women coming forward about mistreatment at the hands of Oscar-winning producer Harvey Weinstein has emerged into a movement against abuse that has reverberated across industries. — Lisa Respers France, CNN, "The fallout since the Weinstein scandal first rocked Hollywood," 5 Apr. 2018 The assassination of Ms Franco, a young, black, gay activist, has reverberated far beyond her birthplace. — The Economist, "Mourning MarielleLessons from a murder in Rio de Janeiro," 22 Mar. 2018 His spat with a top police official prompted Mayor John Cranley to ask Black to resign, setting off a crisis that has reverberated from police headquarters to City Council chambers to neighborhood gatherings. — Sharon Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Harry Black's tumultuous tenure as Cincinnati city manager: Threats, lawsuits, turnover," 11 Mar. 2018 Orban is a month from elections that had been expected to be a formality, and a defeat — or even a narrow win — would reverberate from Moscow to Brussels. — Bloomberg.com, "Trump’s North Korea Threats May Be Paying Off," 7 Mar. 2018 The fallout from the claims against Wynn has reverberated from Macau to Las Vegas. — Bloomberg, OregonLive.com, "Casino mogul Steve Wynn quits as chairman, CEO of Wynn Resorts amid sexual misconduct claims," 7 Feb. 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.