animated

1 of 2

adjective

an·​i·​mat·​ed ˈa-nə-ˌmā-təd How to pronounce animated (audio)
1
a
: endowed with life or the qualities of life : alive
animated creatures
b
: full of movement and activity
an animated crowd
c
: full of vigor and spirit : lively
an animated discussion
2
: having the appearance of something alive
an unusually animated piece of sculpture
3
: made in the form of an animated cartoon
an animated film
animatedly adverb

animated

2 of 2

past and past participle of animate

Did you know?

Animated cartoon characters have been "given life" by film techniques, though the animation of drawings actually goes back to handheld toys in the 1830s. A child watching the cartoon may also be animated—squealing, laughing, and jumping around—as can a crowd of hockey fans or a rock-concert audience. And the best discussions and arguments are often highly animated.

Choose the Right Synonym for animated

lively, animated, vivacious, sprightly, gay mean keenly alive and spirited.

lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Examples of animated in a Sentence

Adjective She gave an animated description of the project. After dinner, the discussion got more animated. Many movies for kids are animated rather than live-action.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The newcomer enrolled in tap classes, and trained fastidiously with associate choreographer Rachelle Rak, figuring out how an animated siren might walk and stand. Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 23 May 2025 This is her opportunity to step up into a more prominent role, and the quiet ONO is disappearing in favor of this, more animated and aggressive version. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 May 2025 My favorite part: When an animated Small World facade was projected on the real Small World facade. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 15 May 2025 The solution was Vehicle Motion Cues which puts animated dots on the screen edges to represent changes in vehicle motion, designed to reduce this sensory conflict. David Phelan, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for animated

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see animate entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of animated was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Animated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animated. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

animated

adjective
an·​i·​mat·​ed ˈan-ə-ˌmāt-əd How to pronounce animated (audio)
1
: full of life and energy : lively
2
: appearing to be alive or moving
3
: made in the form of an animated cartoon
an animated movie
animatedly adverb

Medical Definition

animated

adjective
an·​i·​mat·​ed -ˌmāt-əd How to pronounce animated (audio)
1
: endowed with life or the qualities of life
2
: full of movement and activity

More from Merriam-Webster on animated

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