animate

[ˈæ.nə.meɪt]

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animating - animate

An animate thing is an object or being that can move or show life.

When we talk about something being animate, it usually means we think of it as having some sort of energy or movement. For example, if you have a toy robot, and you say it's an animated toy because it looks like a real robot, this word helps us describe its lifelike features.

How common is "animate"?

Word animate is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

verb

To impart motion or the appearance of motion to.
Example: If we animate the model, we can see the complexity of the action.
To give spirit or vigour to; to stimulate or enliven; to inspirit.

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enlivenvitalise

adjective

That which lives.
Possessing the quality or ability of motion.
Dynamic, energetic.
Example: She is an engaging and animate speaker.
(grammar, of a noun or pronoun) Having a referent that includes a human, animal, plant or other entity which is considered alive.
Example: Nouns can be singular or plural, and one of two genders, animate or inanimate.
(grammar) Inflected to agree with an animate noun or pronoun.

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activedynamicenergeticlivelyperkystaticinanimatefixedimmobilestationary

Real examples of "animating" in context

Jensen Ackles Was Put in Extremely Odd Adult Positions in The Boys

Interview

And it's, I mean, they were animating me

5:35

but at the end of the day, they were just animating me.

5:41