animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌa-nə-ˈmā-shən 

plural animations

1

: the act of animating : the state of being animate or animated

2

: a movie, scene, or sequence that simulates movement from a series of still frames (such as drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of inanimate objects moved incrementally)

His work often condenses stories of intricate subjects into brief looping animations.

—Paul Tough

The work, titled Bigger Christmas Trees, was created on an iPad and features ten minutes of animation.

—Julia Binswanger

And as the animation above shows, this tilt causes the Moon's shadow to miss the Earth.

—Tom Yulsman

3

: the preparation of animation (as for animated cartoons, video games, commercials, etc.)

Synonyms

• briskness
• exuberance
• jazziness
• liveliness
• lustiness
• peppiness
• robustness
• sprightliness
• vibrance
• vibrancy
• vigorousness
• vitality

Examples of animation in a Sentence

The animation for the film took over two years to complete.

The studio used computer animation for some of the special effects.

The website has hundreds of animations you can download.

Recent Examples on the Web

Its past sales titles have included animation productions The Amazing Maurice and Luis and the Aliens, dramas including The Collini Case and The Conference, Stella – A Life and Lassie – A New Adventure. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2025

The exhibition is a homage to the women who have shaped the past—and are defining the future—of animation. —Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 27 Apr. 2025

The resources will be made available in all disciplines, allowing for collaboration and innovation in dance, art, film, music, animation and theater. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Adobe Express is also getting upgrades with the addition of advanced video, animation and on-brand tools that let creators do more with their designs, illustrations and footage. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing animation

• suspended animation
• with animation

Rhymes for animation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌan-ə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the state of being animate or animated

2

a

: a film made by photographing a series of positions of objects (as puppets)

b

: animated cartoon

3

: the making of animations

Medical Definition

animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌan-ə-ˈmā-shən 

: the state of being animate or animated see suspended animation