resonate
REZ-uh-neyt
/ˈrezəneɪt/
Produce or be filled with a deep, full, reverberating sound; (metaphorically) evoke images, memories, and emotions, or meet with agreement.
Implies that an idea or message strikes a deep, sympathetic chord in someone, aligning perfectly with their own experiences or values.
The story behind the word. The word comes from physical acoustics—the way a hollow wooden violin body amplifies the vibration of a string, making it 'sound back' (re-sonare). In the late 20th century, this acoustic term was borrowed by psychology and marketing to describe how a message or story can make a person's inner emotions vibrate in perfect harmony.
Word relationships
- reverberate: Reverberate is mostly physical (sound bouncing back), while resonate is more frequently used for emotional or intellectual alignment.
- echo: Echo implies a direct, sometimes mindless repetition, whereas resonate implies a rich, harmonious response.
- clash: To clash is to be in violent disagreement or disharmony.
- fall flat: To fall flat is to fail to evoke any interest, emotion, or agreement.
Commonly confused with
- reason: Reason is logical thinking; resonate is emotional and intuitive alignment.
Word family
- resonance (noun): The quality of being resonant; deep, full sound or emotional significance.
- resonant (adjective): Deep, clear, and continuing to sound or ring.
Collocations
- resonate deeply
- resonate with voters
- resonate with the audience
Example sentences
- "Her story of struggle and triumph will resonate with anyone who has ever faced adversity." A review of a poignant memoir.
Memory hook
Think of a resonance chamber in an acoustic guitar: when you pluck a string, the whole body resonates with a rich, deep sound. Resonate is to vibrate on the same emotional frequency.
When not to use
Do not use when someone simply understands or agrees with a dry fact; it requires an emotional or intuitive echo.
Fun facts
- In physics, resonance is the phenomenon where a system vibrates at maximum amplitude at a specific frequency, which famously caused the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
- The root 'sonare' also gives us 'sonar', 'sonnet', and 'consonant'.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.