reverberate
gb/ɹɪvˈɚbɚeɪt/ us/ɹɪvˈɚbɚeɪt/
C1
English
visszhangzik, továbbgyűrűzik, utózeng, megremeg
VERB
C1
1
visszhangzik
B2
Usage pattern:
[sound] reverberates (around/through) [place]
The gunshot reverberated through the empty warehouse.
A lövés végigvisszhangzott az üres raktárban.
Her laughter reverberated around the stone courtyard.
Nevetése visszhangzott a kőudvarban.
A low rumble reverberated in the tunnel as the train approached.
Learner examples
The loud noise reverberated in the room.
A hangos zaj visszhangzott a szobában.
My footsteps reverberated in the hallway.
A lépteim visszhangoztak a folyosón.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with resonate (which can also mean ‘feel strongly about something’); reverberate is most often about echoing sound.
Meaning
echo loudly around a place
Collocations
reverberate around the room
|reverberate through the hall
|reverberate off the walls
|reverberate in the tunnel
|reverberate in the chamber
|reverberate throughout the building
|voices reverberate
|footsteps reverberate
|music reverberates
|a bang reverberates
Synonyms
echo (More general and more common; reverberate suggests repeated echoing.)
|
resound (Often implies a loud, ringing sound spreading through a space.)
|
ring (Suggests a clear, bell-like sound rather than layered echoes.)
Antonyms
die away (Describes a sound becoming gradually quieter.)
|
fade (General opposite: the sound becomes weaker and disappears.)
Themes
sound
|places
Definition
If a sound reverberates, it echoes in a place.
To sound again and again as an echo, especially in a large or enclosed space.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
visszhangzik
C1
Usage pattern:
[event/decision] reverberates through [group/system] (for [time])
The scandal continued to reverberate through the organization long after the CEO resigned.
A botrány jóval a vezérigazgató lemondása után is továbbgyűrűzött a szervezetben.
Her speech reverberated across social media and shaped the national conversation.
A beszéde visszhangzott a közösségi médiában, és alakította az országos közbeszédet.
The decision to raise interest rates reverberated through global markets.
Learner examples
The news reverberated across the country.
A hír az egész országban visszhangzott.
The mistake reverberated for years.
A hiba hatása évekig továbbgyűrűzött.
Common mistake:
This figurative meaning is about effects or consequences, not about literal sound.
Meaning
have wide and lasting effects
Collocations
reverberate through society
|reverberate across the industry
|reverberate around the world
|reverberate for years
|reverberate for decades
|reverberate in the media
|reverberate in public debate
|reverberate through the economy
|reverberate through the markets
|reverberate in people's minds
Synonyms
ripple (Emphasizes spreading outward in stages.)
|
resonate (Often implies emotional or cultural significance as well as impact.)
|
echo (Suggests the effect repeats or is reflected in later events or reactions.)
Antonyms
fade (Opposite: the impact becomes weaker over time.)
|
pass (Opposite: the effects or attention do not last.)
Themes
society
|business
|politics
|news
Definition
If something reverberates, its effects continue and spread.
To have continuing and spreading effects, often in ways that are widely felt or discussed.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
3
utózeng
C1
Usage pattern:
[sound] reverberates in [room/space] (because of [surfaces/materials])
In untreated rooms, low frequencies can reverberate and make speech harder to understand.
Kezeletlen helyiségekben a mély frekvenciák utózenghetnek, és nehezebbé tehetik a beszéd megértését.
The drum hit reverberated in the small studio because of the hard walls.
A dobütés utózengett a kis stúdióban a kemény falak miatt.
Engineers added panels so the sound wouldn’t reverberate as long.
Learner examples
Hard walls make sound reverberate.
A kemény falak miatt a hang utózeng.
The sound reverberated in the empty room.
A hang utózengett az üres szobában.
Common mistake:
In technical contexts, reverberate focuses on sustained sound in a room, not a single clear echo.
Meaning
sound persist by repeated reflections
Collocations
sound reverberates
|reverberate in a room
|reverberate in a large space
|reverberate off hard surfaces
|reverberate in a cathedral
|reverberate time
|reverberate strongly
|reverberate longer
|reverberate in the microphone
|reverberate on the recording
Synonyms
resonate (Often used for sustained sound; can also refer to physical vibration.)
|
ring (Suggests a clearer, more tonal sustain than room reverberation.)
Antonyms
deaden (To reduce or stop reverberation by absorbing sound.)
|
dampen (To make reverberation weaker by reducing reflections.)
Themes
sound
|technology
Definition
If sound reverberates, it keeps sounding because it reflects off walls and surfaces.
To continue sounding because sound waves repeatedly reflect off surfaces, creating a sustained, echo-like effect.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
4
megremeg
B2
Usage pattern:
[place/thing] reverberates (with/from) [impact/noise]
The floor reverberated as the bass hit dropped.
A padló megremegett, amikor megszólalt a basszus.
The valley reverberated with the force of the explosions.
A völgy megremegett a robbanások erejétől.
The air seemed to reverberate after the thunderclap.
Learner examples
The floor reverberated when the truck passed.
A padló megremegett, amikor elhaladt a teherautó.
Common mistake:
This sense is less common than the ‘echo’ sense and often sounds literary.
Meaning
vibrate or shake from impact
Collocations
the ground reverberated
|the floor reverberated
|the air reverberated
|reverberate with explosions
|reverberate from the blast
|reverberate with bass
|reverberate with thunder
Synonyms
vibrate (More direct and common for physical shaking.)
|
tremble (Suggests a lighter or more continuous shaking.)
Antonyms
steady (To remain stable without shaking.)
|
still (To be motionless; no vibration.)
Themes
movement
|sound
Definition
If something reverberates, it shakes a little because of a strong force or sound.
To shake or vibrate, often because of a strong force or loud noise.
Grammar
Dictionary form
reverberate
IPA
GB/ɹɪvˈɚbɚeɪt/
US/ɹɪvˈɚbɚeɪt/
Syllables & stress
re - ver - ber - ate (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ver)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: reverberate
- 3rd Person Singular: reverberates
- Present Participle: reverberating
- Past: reverberated
Expressions
reverberate through [place]
1/ɹɪvˈɚbɚeɪt θɹˈu plˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
echo along a space
A sound reverberates through a place when it echoes there.
Examples
- A scream reverberated through the stairwell.
- The announcement reverberated through the airport terminal.
- The door slam reverberated through the empty house.
Learner examples
- The noise reverberated through the building.
reverberate through [society/industry/system]
1/ɹɪvˈɚbɚeɪt θɹˈu sˈoʊsˈitiəndˈʌstɹˈaɪsˌɪstəm/
fixed phrase
formal
spread as ongoing consequences
If something reverberates through a group, it affects many people for a long time.
Examples
- The policy change reverberated through the healthcare system within weeks.
- The court ruling reverberated through the tech industry and changed how companies operate.
- The crisis reverberated through the region, affecting jobs and housing.
Learner examples
- The decision reverberated through the company.
reverberate with [sound]
1/ɹɪvˈɚbɚeɪt wˈɪθ sˈaʊnd/
fixed phrase
be filled with echoing sound
A place reverberates with a sound when the sound echoes there.
Examples
- The stadium reverberated with cheers after the final whistle.
- The hallway reverberated with the sound of heavy boots.
- The cathedral reverberated with organ music.
Learner examples
- The room reverberated with laughter.