resonate

[ rez-uh-neyt ]

verb (used without object)

, res·o·nat·ed, res·o·nat·ing.

1. to resound.
2. to act as a resonator; exhibit resonance.
3. Electronics. to reinforce oscillations because the natural frequency of the device is the same as the frequency of the source.
4. to amplify vocal sound by the sympathetic vibration of air in certain cavities and bony structures.
5. to produce a positive feeling, emotional response, or opinion:

   an issue that clearly resonates with members of our community; a poem that resonates for me.

verb (used with object)

, res·o·nat·ed, res·o·nat·ing.

1. to cause to resound.

resonate

/ ˈrɛzəˌneɪt /

verb

1. to resound or cause to resound; reverberate
2. (of a mechanical system, electrical circuit, chemical compound, etc) to exhibit or cause to exhibit resonance
3. introften foll bywith to be understood or receive a sympathetic response

   themes which will resonate with voters

4. intr:foll bywith to be filled with

   simple words that seem to resonate with mystery and beauty

Derived Forms

• ˌresoˈnation, noun

Other Words From

• reso·nation noun
• un·reso·nating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of resonate¹

First recorded in 1870–75; from Latin resonātus “sounded again,” past participle of resonāre “to sound again”; resound

Word History and Origins

Origin of resonate¹

C19: from Latin resonāre

Example Sentences

“What resonated for me was being in a totally new environment and having to figure things out,” says Nyong’o, who was born in Mexico and raised in Kenya.

From Los Angeles Times

The film may struggle to take flight, but when it does, it is undeniably moving, with a message of freedom and defiance that resonates now more than ever.

From Los Angeles Times

She said the Democratic Party needs to figure out why the many policies it’s embraced that are actually helping Americans are somehow not resonating with voters.

From Los Angeles Times

Clearly, something about his savvy with deconstructing R&B vocals and evocative, just-at-the-edge-of-underground productions is still resonating with the industry more broadly.

From Los Angeles Times

I can’t vouch for the factuality of that, but it resonates, as the emotion here is triumph.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• echo
• reverberate
• vibrate