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animated

adjective
an·​i·​mat·​ed | \ -ˌmā-təd How to pronounce animated (audio) \

Definition of animated

1a : 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
Other Words from animated Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about animated

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Other Words from animated

animatedly adverb

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

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.

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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Things go awry as the train pierces the veil between the real and animated worlds in an attraction that combines vintage dark-ride looks with the latest technology. — Scott Craven, azcentral, "From Epcot's update to a Spider-Man ride, everything Disney revealed about its parks at D23," 26 Aug. 2019 The character was originally voiced by Betty Lou Gerson in the animated film, and played by Glenn Close in a 1996 live-action remake. — NBC News, "Emma Stone's Cruella de Vil is more punk rock than her animated counterpart," 24 Aug. 2019 Isabela also voiced Heather in the animated film The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature. — Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "7 Facts About Isabela Moner That Prove She's About to Blow Up," 23 Aug. 2019 So far, rarely has America seen a more animated and, yes, crass group of candidates. — Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "Democrats’ Debate Cowardice, Hypocrisy, and Nuttiness," 6 Aug. 2019 And then there is the Scooby franchise, which even after 50 years has remained relevant, moving between animated and live-action forms. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Comic-Con 2019: Sesame Street, you look great at 50. You too, Scooby Doo.," 20 July 2019 As traffic whizzes by a noisy and animated section of Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Braggs revisits the spot where the couple had lived two months ago. — Yalonda M. James, SFChronicle.com, "Veteran rebuilds life after fighting internal battle against homelessness, unemployment," 14 July 2019 The animated film’s take on a classical Chinese legend offered a blend of female empowerment and catchy, Disney-style musical numbers. — Allegra Frank, Vox, "Disney’s live-action Mulan remake isn’t a musical, it’s a feminist action movie," 8 July 2019 Cheerful, bright, animated, joyful, and upbeat are just a few words to describe Timothy. — Peninsula Humane Society, The Mercury News, "Pet of the week: Timothy," 28 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'animated.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of animated

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for animated

see animate entry 1

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More Definitions for animated

animated

adjective
How to pronounce animated (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of animated

: full of life and energy
: produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another : produced through the process of animation

See the full definition for animated in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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