animated

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

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

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 Beyond that award, the PGA also presents prizes for animated features, documentary features, episodic TV and limited series, among others. Todd Longwell, Variety, 25 Feb. 2024 Now the movie, which Netflix released last June, is nominated for an Oscar for animated feature. Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 There is a poster of Bartos on one wall, but the real-life person is a lot more animated and smiley, keen to speak about his perfectly synced score that enhances the classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. SPIN: How did your fascination with the art and culture of the Weimar Republic begin? Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 9 Feb. 2024 Water, earth, fire, and air converge as the stars and creative team behind the fantasy reimagining of a beloved animated show lay out what the legions of cross-generational fans can expect. EW.com, 29 Jan. 2024 Fox also has rookie shows Doc, Rescue: Hi-Surf and the animated Universal Basic Guys/The Hoagie Bros. in the works. Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2024 The giant ball covered in an LED screen is showing animated Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers helmets on it promoting Super Bowl LVII that will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday. Nick Wagner, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2024 His scores of acting credits include more recent runs on Boston Legal (2004-08) and the animated King of the Hill (2005-08). Lauren Beale, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2024 The festival presents feature-length documentary, narrative and animated films along with guest speakers and filmmakers. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'animated.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see animate entry 1

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of animated was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near animated

Cite this Entry

“Animated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animated. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!