reverberation

American  

[ri-vur-buh-rey-shuhn] / rɪˌvɜr bəˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a reechoed sound.

2. the fact of being reverberated or reflected.

3. something that is reverberated.

   Reverberations from the explosion were felt within a six-mile radius.

4. an act or instance of reverberating.

5. Physics. the persistence of a sound after its source has stopped, caused by multiple reflection of the sound within a closed space.

6. the act or process of subjecting something to reflected heat, as in a reverberatory furnace.

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Etymology

Origin of reverberation

1350–1400; Middle English reverberacioun < Medieval Latin reverberātiōn- (stem of reverberātiō ). See reverberate, -ion

Example Sentences

One in France produces a reverberation, we are told, “comparable to those found in a contemporary symphony hall.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

“The reverberation explanation also doesn’t account for why it appears that only folks to the southwest of the venue heard it,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2024

"And I think it's really a testament to the power of love. We went through this thing and now we have this beautiful film that will hopefully create a reverberation."

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2023

"When the market takes a focus on one stock, any disappointment could have a reverberation in the market," said Andre Bakhos, managing member at Ingenium Analytics LLC.

From Reuters • Aug. 23, 2023

Then, as the reverberation of my own heartbeat stopped hammering loudly against my eardrums, I heard her.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• repercussion