Animate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Meaning & Definition of Animate

Animate (adjective)

possessing or characterized by life, alive
full of life, animated
of or relating to animal life as opposed to plant life

Animate (verb)

to give spirit and support to, encourage
to give life to
to give vigor and zest to

Animate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to give life, vigor, or spirit to

"Mr. Clark animates history for his sixth graders by frequently showing up for class dressed like some famous historical figure"

similar: amp (up), brace, energize, enliven, fillip, fire, ginger (up), invigorate, jazz (up), juice up, jump-start, liven (up), pep (up), quicken, spike, stimulate, vitalize, vivify, zip (up)

related: arouse, awake, awaken, raise, rouse, stir, wake (up), activate, actuate, drive, impel, motivate, motive, move, propel, charge, electrify, galvanize, enkindle, excite, ferment, foment, incite, inflame, instigate, kindle, provoke, set off, spark, trigger, turn on, whip (up), abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, infuse, inspire, lift, rally, steel, strengthen, reactivate, reanimate, reawake, reawaken, recharge, recreate, reenergize, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, rekindle, renew, restimulate, resurrect, resuscitate, revitalize, revive

opposite: damp, dampen, deaden, dull, kill

near: burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, fag, fatigue, harass, kayo, knock out, sap, tucker (out), undermine, wash out, weaken, wear, wear out, weary, check, curb, inhibit, jade, quell, quench, repress, restrain, slow, still, stunt, suppress, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Animate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

having much high-spirited energy and movement

"an animate dance routine that will really get the blood pumping"

similar: active, airy, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, lively, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, on the go

related: dapper, dashing, spiffy, agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake, agile, nimble, spry, bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, chirrupy, effervescent, sparkly, upbeat, eager, enthusiastic, keen, frolicsome, impish, pixieish, playful, boisterous, bubbly, ebullient, exuberant, high-spirited, high-strung, nervous, skittish

opposite: dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid

near: indolent, lazy, unambitious, inert, lethargic, sleepy, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary, apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid, boring, dull, irksome, tedious
having or showing life

"had a dream about a sandwich that becomes animate"

similar: alive, breathing, live, living, quick

related: active, animated, dynamic, lively, thriving, vibrant, vigorous, vital, vivacious, current, existent, existing, extant, going, prevailing, surviving, resurrected

opposite: asleep, breathless, cold, dead, deceased, defunct, departed, expired, inanimate, lifeless, nonliving

near: dying, fading, moribund, stillborn, reposing, resting, ghostlike, ghostly, ghosty, zombielike, absent, extinct, fallen, finished, gone, lapsed, lost, nonexistent, perished, terminated, vanished, wiped out, barren, desert

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Animate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Animate:

amp (up), brace, energize, enliven, fillip, fire, ginger (up), invigorate, jazz (up), juice up, jump-start, liven (up), pep (up), quicken, spike, stimulate, vitalize, vivify, zip (up), active, airy, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, lively, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Animate

Words with the opposite meaning of Animate:

damp, dampen, deaden, dull, kill, dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid, asleep, breathless, cold, deceased, defunct, departed, expired, nonliving

Related Words for Animate

arouse, awake, awaken, raise, rouse, stir, wake (up), activate, actuate, drive, impel, motivate, motive, move, propel, charge, electrify, galvanize, enkindle, excite, ferment, foment, incite, inflame, instigate, kindle, provoke, set off, spark, trigger

Near Antonyms of Animate

burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, fag, fatigue, harass, kayo, knock out, sap, tucker (out), undermine, wash out, weaken, wear, wear out, weary, check, curb, inhibit, jade, quell, quench, repress, restrain, slow, still

Word Forms of Animate

Inflections: animated, animating

Derived words: animately (adverb), animateness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Animate

Middle English, from Latin animatus, past participle of animare to give life to, from anima breath, soul; akin to Old English ōthian to breathe, Latin animus spirit, Greek anemos wind, Sanskrit aniti he breathes

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Animate

What does "Animate" mean?

"Animate" means possessing or characterized by life, alive. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: possessing or characterized by life, alive. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Animate"?

Other words for "Animate" include amp (up), brace, energize, enliven, fillip, fire, ginger (up) and invigorate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Animate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Animate"?

There are 163 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Animate". Common alternatives include amp (up), brace, energize, enliven, fillip, fire, ginger (up), invigorate, jazz (up) and juice up.

What is the opposite of "Animate"?

Antonyms of "Animate" include damp, dampen, deaden, dull, kill, dead, inactive and inanimate. Near antonyms include burn out, debilitate, do in and drain.

How do you use "Animate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Animate" in a sentence: "Mr. Clark animates history for his sixth graders by frequently showing up for class dressed like some famous historical figure"; "an animate dance routine that will really get the blood pumping"; "had a dream about a sandwich that becomes animate".

Is "Animate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Animate" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Animate"?

"Animate" is pronounced /ˈa-nə-mət/ as an adjective and /ˈa-nə-ˌmāt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as an·i·mate.

What is the origin of the word "Animate"?

"Animate" comes from Middle English, from Latin animatus, past participle of animare to give life to, from anima breath, soul; akin to Old English ōthian to breathe, Latin animus spirit, Greek anemos wind, Sanskrit aniti he breathes. First known use: 14th century.