vibrate

[ vahy-breyt ]

verb (used without object)

, vi·brat·ed, vi·brat·ing.

1. to move rhythmically and steadily to and fro, as a pendulum; oscillate.
2. to move to and fro or up and down quickly and repeatedly; quiver; tremble.
3. (of sounds) to produce or have a quivering or vibratory effect; resound.

   Synonyms: echo

4. to thrill, as in emotional response.
5. to move between alternatives or extremes; fluctuate; vacillate.

verb (used with object)

, vi·brat·ed, vi·brat·ing.

1. to cause to move rhythmically and steadily to and fro, swing, or oscillate.
2. to cause to move to and fro or up and down quickly and repeatedly; cause to quiver or tremble.
3. to give forth or emit by, or as by, vibration.
4. to measure or indicate by vibration or oscillation:

   a pendulum vibrating seconds.

vibrate

/ vaɪˈbreɪt; ˈvaɪbrəˌtaɪl /

verb

1. to move or cause to move back and forth rapidly; shake, quiver, or throb
2. intr to oscillate
3. to send out (a sound) by vibration; resonate or cause to resonate
4. intr to waver
5. physics to undergo or cause to undergo an oscillatory or periodic process, as of an alternating current; oscillate
6. rare.
   intr to respond emotionally; thrill

Derived Forms

• viˈbratingly, adverb
• vibratile, adjective
• ˈvibratory, adjective
• viˈbrating, adjective

Other Words From

• vibrat·ing·ly adverb
• non·vibrat·ing adjective
• re·vibrate verb revibrated revibrating
• un·vibrat·ed adjective
• un·vibrat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vibrate¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin vibrātus (past participle of vibrāre “to move to and fro”); -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vibrate¹

C17: from Latin vibrāre

Synonym Study

See shake.

Example Sentences

The ground vibrates beneath us as soon as the countdown ends and the spacecraft takes to the skies.

From BBC

Do the one-way trip because your arms are going to get tired if you’re not used to working out or your body vibrating for a long period of time.

From Los Angeles Times

The rock band played at volumes that could make your knees shake, set your skin vibrating and turn your brain off.

From Los Angeles Times

He practically vibrates while articulating his regret at being unable to stop it.

From Los Angeles Times

About an hour after the first message, phones again vibrated with a new alert from the Home Front Command, telling people they could leave shelters and protected areas.

From BBC

Related Words

• flutter
• pulsate
• resonate
• resound
• reverberate
• shiver
• throb
• tremble
• undulate