reverberate

verb re·ver·ber·ate \ ri-ˈvər-bə-ˌrāt \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of reverberate

reverberated; reverberating

transitive verb

1 : reflect

2 : repel

3 : echo

intransitive verb

1 a : 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

See reverberate defined for English-language learners

See reverberate defined for kids

reverberate was our Word of the Day on 03/31/2014. Hear the podcast!

Examples of reverberate in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of reverberate from the Web

The fatal shot reverberated through the housing complex, sending Lizzie Mae Payne—who was inside her apartment watching the soap opera As the World Turns—running outside, where neighbors told her that her son had been shot.

— kirsten west savali, The Root, "Watch: Memphis Police Officer Guns Down 16-Year-Old #LarryPayne as Sanitation Strike Continues," 3 Apr. 2018
The race may officially be nonpartisan but the results will reverberate widely as pundits try to assess the political landscape heading into November's midterm elections.

— patrick marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Supreme Court race goes national with endorsements and interest in results," 2 Apr. 2018
The scandal reverberates through politics as well as the internet.

— The Economist, "The Facebook scandal could change politics as well as the internet," 22 Mar. 2018
Fears of a trans-Pacific trade war reverberated through the world’s markets, with the stock prices for major exporters like Boeing and Caterpillar plunging more than 5 percent.

— mark landler and jim tankersley, New York Times, "Trump Hits China With Stiff Trade Measures," 22 Mar. 2018
The death of Augie Garrido, college baseball's all-time winningest coach, reverberated through the sport Thursday (March 16), including all the way to heart of LSU coach Paul Mainieri.

— ron higgins, NOLA.com, "LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri mourns the loss of college baseball icon Augie Garrido," 16 Mar. 2018
Second, tonight's outcome will reverberate nationally.

— david wasserman, NBC News, "Tonight's outcome will reverberate beyond PA's 18th district," 13 Mar. 2018
The win over the Volunteers reverberated far beyond Tuscaloosa.

— rainer sabin, AL.com, "Live updates: Alabama takes on LSU," 13 Feb. 2018
But that story, and so many others, reverberated beyond local markets and prompted other victims to come forward.

— richard deitsch, SI.com, "Inside the Reporting of Five Journalists That Helped End Larry Nassar’s Serial Sexual Abuse," 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.

Origin and Etymology of reverberate

Latin reverberatus, past participle of reverberare, from re- + verberare to lash, from verber rod — more at vervain

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First Known Use: 15th century

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reverberate Synonyms

reverberate

adjective re·ver·ber·ate \ ri-ˈvər-b(ə-)rət \

Definition of reverberate

: reverberant

First Known Use of reverberate

1603

REVERBERATE Defined for English Language Learners

reverberate

verb

Definition of reverberate for English Language Learners

: to continue in a series of quickly repeated sounds that bounce off a surface (such as a wall)
: to become filled with a sound

REVERBERATE Defined for Kids

reverberate

verb re·ver·ber·ate \ ri-ˈvər-bə-ˌrāt \

Definition of reverberate for Students

reverberated; reverberating

: to continue in or as if in a series of echoes

My voice reverberated throughout the room.

Learn More about reverberate

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

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reverberate

Definition of reverberate

reverberate was our Word of the Day on 03/31/2014. Hear the podcast!

Examples of reverberate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of reverberate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of reverberate

reverberate Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

reverberate

Definition of reverberate

First Known Use of reverberate

REVERBERATE Defined for English Language Learners

reverberate

Definition of reverberate for English Language Learners

REVERBERATE Defined for Kids

reverberate

Definition of reverberate for Students

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