animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌa-nə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the act of animating : the state of being animate or animated

2

: animated cartoon

3

: the preparation of animated cartoons

Synonyms

• briskness
• exuberance
• jazziness
• liveliness
• lustiness
• peppiness
• robustness
• sprightliness
• vibrance
• vibrancy
• vigorousness
• vitality

Examples of animation in a Sentence

The animation for the film took over two years to complete.

The studio used computer animation for some of the special effects.

The website has hundreds of animations you can download.

Recent Examples on the Web

For a movie about a reality where mortals and otherworldly spirits coexist on the same plane, the filmmakers decided to compound the flesh-and-bone realism of live action cinema and animation’s fantastical qualities. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 22 June 2024

But anyone can appreciate how Rango uses CGI animation to bring a new gross-glossy grandeur to the Western. —and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024

Other footage shown today came from dark comedy Savage House starring Richard E Grant and Claire Foy, and an animation test of the upcoming Smurfs. —Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 19 June 2024

Karen Toliver, who was tapped to lead film animation in 2022, and feature animation president Traci Balthazor will be leaving Netflix after launching films like Leo and Nimona. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing animation

• suspended animation
• with animation

Kids Definition

animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌan-ə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the state of being animate or animated

2

a

: a film made by photographing a series of positions of objects (as puppets)

b

: animated cartoon

3

: the making of animations

Medical Definition

animation

noun

an·​i·​ma·​tion ˌan-ə-ˈmā-shən 

: the state of being animate or animated see suspended animation