English Reference
Adjective

resonant

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˈɹɛzənənt/ UK /ɹˈɛzənənt/ res·o·nant UK spelling resonants

adj.having a deep, clear, and powerful sound that lasts for a long time. It can also describe an idea or memory that feels very meaningful to you.

adj.producing or exhibiting a deep, clear, and reverberating sound. In a figurative sense, it describes something that evokes strong emotions or personal significance through shared experiences.


SIMPLE

The singer has a deep, resonant voice.

CONTEXTUAL

The speaker's words were deeply resonant with the audience, as many had faced similar challenges in their own lives.

COMPLEX

The cathedral's architecture was designed to be acoustically resonant, ensuring that even the softest choral notes would carry clearly to the very back of the nave.

Usage

Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'sound', or 'feel'. When used figuratively, it frequently takes the preposition 'with'.

Photograph: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock Her performance, and Fall’s production as a whole, proves that this period comedy of manners is eternally resonant.

The Guardian· 20 Aug 2026

Simon is at his best when among resonant rhythms from Johannesburg.

The Guardian· 20 Aug 2026

Borrowed from French résonnant or Latin resonāre (“to resound”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin resonāre
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated