animate Meaning & Definition
What Does Animate Mean?
As an adjective, animate means That lives. It is also used to mean That has (or is believed to have) a spirit (anima) and/or some amount of consciousness and sentience, either being alive or supernaturally seeming alive. As a verb, it means To impart motion or the appearance of motion to.
Quick Facts About Animate
| Part of speech | adjective, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈæn.ɪ.mət// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | exalt, sentient and invigorate |
| Antonyms | insensate, blunt and dead |
| Comparative / superlative | more animate, most animate |
| Verb forms | animates, animating, animated |
Animate Definition (Adjective)
- That lives.
- That has (or is believed to have) a spirit (anima) and/or some amount of consciousness and sentience, either being alive or supernaturally seeming alive.
- Possessing the quality or ability of motion.
- Dynamic, energetic.
She is an engaging and animate speaker.
- having a referent that is considered alive (this generally includes humans, animals and deities, sometimes also plants, spirits, etc.)
Nouns can be singular or plural, and one of two genders, animate or inanimate.
- Inflected to agree with an animate noun or pronoun.
Animate as a Verb
- To impart motion or the appearance of motion to.
leaves animated by a stiff breeze
- To give spirit or vigour to; to stimulate or enliven; to inspirit.
Adjective
- That which lives.
- (grammar, of a noun or pronoun) Having a referent that includes a human, animal, plant or other entity which is considered alive.
Nouns can be singular or plural, and one of two genders, animate or inanimate.
- (grammar) Inflected to agree with an animate noun or pronoun.
Synonyms of Animate
Antonyms of Animate
Animate in a Sentence
She is an engaging and animate speaker.
Nouns can be singular or plural, and one of two genders, animate or inanimate.
leaves animated by a stiff breeze
If we animate the model, we can see the complexity of the action.
Word Forms & Grammar
animate (comparative more animate, superlative most animate)
animate (third-person singular simple present animates, present participle animating, simple past and past participle animated)
Words That Rhyme With Animate
Origin of Animate
Inherited from Middle English animat(e), from Latin animātus, perfect passive participle of animō (“to fill with breath, quicken, encourage, animate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from anima (“soul, spirit, breath”); see anima. The verb derives from the adjective, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Animate Pronunciation
You say animate as //ˈæn.ɪ.mət//. It has 1 syllable.
Animate: Your Questions Answered
Is animate an adjective or a verb?
Animate is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for animate?
Close synonyms of animate are exalt, sentient and invigorate. See the full list of animate synonyms and antonyms.
What is the past tense of animate?
The past tense of animate is animated. The present participle is animating.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of animate?
The comparative form is more animate and the superlative form is most animate.