Word
resonate
Phoneticsres·onate
US/ˈɹɛzəˌneɪt/
UK/ɹˈɛzənˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to produce sound
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
v. to produce a deep, clear sound that continues for a long time, often by vibrating.
v. to produce or be filled with a deep, full, reverberating sound; to vibrate in response to an external stimulus.
“The sound of the church bell resonated through the quiet valley.”
“The hollow body of the acoustic guitar is designed to resonate at specific frequencies, amplifying the strings' vibrations into a rich, audible tone.”
02to feel meaningful
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to have a special meaning or importance for someone because it relates to their own life.
v. to evoke a feeling of shared emotion, belief, or experience in an audience or individual.
“Her speech about working hard really resonated with the students.”
“The candidate's message of economic reform failed to resonate with rural voters, who felt their specific concerns were being overlooked by the central campaign.”
Pitfall
The story resonated to me.
The story resonated with me.
When an idea feels meaningful to you, use the preposition 'with'.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The island setting, themes of displacement and longing for return resonated, and made me realise Shakespeare could speak to my life.” “The themes resonate with many readers, she adds.” Etymology
From Latin resonō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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