reverberate

1 of 2

verb

re·​ver·​ber·​ate ri-ˈvər-bə-ˌrāt How to pronounce reverberate (audio)
reverberated; reverberating

intransitive verb

1
a
: to become driven back
b
: to become reflected
2
: to continue in or as if in a series of echoes : resound
a historic event that still reverberates today

reverberate

2 of 2

adjective

re·​ver·​ber·​ate ri-ˈvər-b(ə-)rət How to pronounce reverberate (audio)

Did you know?

The letter sequence "v-e-r-b" in reverberate might make you think at first of such word-related brethren as proverb, verbal, and verbose, all of which derive from the Latin noun verbum, meaning "word." In fact, reverberate comes from a much different source: the Latin verb verberare, meaning "to whip, beat, or lash," which is related to the noun verber, meaning "rod." Reverberate entered the English language in the 15th century, and one of its early meanings was "to beat, drive, or cast back." By the early 1600s, it began to appear in contexts associated with sound that repeats or returns the way an echo does.

Examples of reverberate in a Sentence

Verb the sound of thunder reverberated from one end of the mountain pass to the other
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
From the cost of consumer goods to the stability of public infrastructure, the ripple effects could reverberate across the globe. Ed MacHa, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 The worry among Democrats is that the controversy could reverberate in the last week before Election Day — and as many millions of Americans cast their ballots early. Niall Stanage, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024 Umar’s sentiment, though rooted in their singular context, reverberates throughout this show. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2024 So Shonda Rhimes has left a footprint that continues to expand and reverberate around the world. Ronda Racha Penrice, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reverberate 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin reverberatus, past participle of reverberare, from re- + verberare to lash, from verber rod — more at vervain

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1603, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reverberate was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near reverberate

Cite this Entry

“Reverberate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverberate. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

reverberate

verb
re·​ver·​ber·​ate
ri-ˈvər-bə-ˌrāt
reverberated; reverberating
: to continue in or as if in a series of echoes
reverberation
-ˌvər-bə-ˈrā-shən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on reverberate

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