vibrate
gb/vˈaɪbɹeɪt/ us/vˈaɪbɹeɪt/
B1
English
rezeg, rezegtet, megremegtet, vibrál, remeg
VERB
B2
1
rezeg
B1
Usage pattern:
[thing] vibrates; [thing] vibrates with/from [cause]
The windows vibrated when the truck passed the house.
Az ablakok rezegtek, amikor a teherautó elhaladt a ház mellett.
The bridge began to vibrate in the strong wind.
A híd rezegni kezdett az erős szélben.
I could feel the floor vibrate as the train went by.
Learner examples
The table is vibrating.
Az asztal rezeg.
The glass vibrated when I shut the door.
A pohár megremegett, amikor becsuktam az ajtót.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *vibrate* for large movements; it usually means small, rapid shaking.
Meaning
shake rapidly with small movements
Collocations
vibrate slightly
|vibrate violently
|vibrate constantly
|vibrate with fear
|vibrate from the impact
|vibrate underfoot
|windows vibrate
|the ground vibrates
|the whole room vibrated
|vibrate at high speed
Synonyms
tremble (Often suggests fear, cold, or weakness as the cause.)
|
quiver (Often suggests a light, fine shaking.)
|
rattle (Often suggests a noisy shaking of hard objects.)
Antonyms
be still (No movement or shaking.)
|
stay steady (Remain stable without shaking.)
Themes
daily_life
|science
Definition
To shake very fast in small movements.
To move back and forth very quickly in small motions, often continuously.
VERB
B2
2
rezegtet
B2
megremegtet
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] vibrates [something]; [something] vibrates [place/object]
The bass from the club vibrated the walls.
A klubból áthallatszó basszus rezegtette a falakat.
The explosion vibrated the ground for miles around.
A robbanás kilométeres körzetben megremegtette a talajt.
Heavy machinery can vibrate the entire building.
Learner examples
Loud music vibrated the window.
A hangos zene rezegtette az ablakot.
The engine vibrated the seat.
A motor rezegtette az ülést.
Common mistake:
This use is less common than the intransitive form; often English prefers phrasing like “made it vibrate.”
Meaning
make something shake rapidly
Collocations
vibrate the floor
|vibrate the walls
|vibrate the building
|vibrate the table
|vibrate the air
|vibrate the room
|vibrate the glass
|vibrate the ground
Synonyms
shake (More general; can be slow or large movements.)
|
jolt (Suggests a sudden single movement rather than continuous vibration.)
Antonyms
steady (Make something stable and not shaking.)
|
stabilize (Reduce or prevent vibration.)
Themes
daily_life
|science
Definition
To make something shake very fast.
To cause something to move back and forth quickly in small motions.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
3
rezeg
B1
Usage pattern:
[string/object/air] vibrates; [something] vibrates at [frequency]
When you pluck the string, it vibrates and produces a note.
Amikor megpengeted a húrt, az rezegni kezd, és hangot kelt.
Sound travels because the air vibrates.
A hang azért terjed, mert a levegő rezeg.
The speaker cone vibrates to create the sound you hear.
Learner examples
The guitar string vibrates.
A gitárhúr rezeg.
Air vibrates when there is sound.
Hang esetén a levegő rezeg.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse *vibrate* with *resonate*; resonance is a stronger response at a matching frequency.
Meaning
oscillate to produce sound
Collocations
vibrate at a frequency
|vibrate rapidly
|vibrate back and forth
|vibrate in place
|vibrate in sympathy
|the string vibrates
|air vibrates
|the speaker cone vibrates
|vibrate at 440 Hz
Synonyms
oscillate (More general scientific term for repeated back-and-forth motion.)
|
resonate (Implies strengthened vibration, often at a particular frequency.)
Antonyms
stop (Cease moving back and forth.)
|
remain still (No oscillation or motion.)
Themes
science
|music
|technology
Definition
To move back and forth very fast, often making sound.
To move back and forth rapidly around a fixed position, especially in a way that produces or carries sound, as strings, air, or parts of a speaker do.
VERB
B1
4
rezeg
B1
Usage pattern:
[device/phone] vibrates (when [something happens])
My phone vibrated during the meeting.
A telefonom rezgett a megbeszélés alatt.
The watch vibrates when I get a new email.
Az órám rezeg, amikor új e-mailt kapok.
Her phone kept vibrating on the table.
Learner examples
My phone is vibrating.
Rezeg a telefonom.
The watch vibrated.
Az óra rezgett.
Common mistake:
Don’t say *vibrate me* for phone notifications; say “My phone vibrated” or “My phone buzzed.”
Meaning
give an alert by vibrating
Collocations
phone vibrates
|my phone vibrated
|the phone vibrated in my pocket
|vibrate silently
|vibrate mode
|vibrate when a message arrives
|vibrate for notifications
Synonyms
buzz (Common in everyday speech for a short vibration alert.)
Antonyms
ring (Make a sound alert instead of vibrating.)
|
stay silent (Give no alert at all.)
Themes
technology
|daily_life
Definition
If a phone vibrates, it shakes to tell you something happened.
To signal a notification by producing a small rapid shaking movement, especially of a phone, instead of making a sound.
VERB
B2
5
Usage pattern:
[place/scene/voice] vibrates with [energy/emotion]
The stadium vibrated with excitement as the players ran onto the field.
A stadion vibrált az izgalomtól, amikor a játékosok kifutottak a pályára.
Her voice vibrated with anger.
A hangja remegett a dühtől.
The whole city seemed to vibrate with possibility.
Learner examples
The room vibrated with excitement.
A szoba vibrált az izgalomtól.
His voice vibrated with emotion.
A hangja remegett az érzelmektől.
Common mistake:
This figurative use usually needs “with” (e.g., “vibrate with excitement”).
Meaning
feel full of energy or emotion
Collocations
vibrate with excitement
|vibrate with tension
|vibrate with anticipation
|vibrate with anger
|vibrate with life
|the city vibrated
|her voice vibrated
|the air vibrated with
|the room vibrated with
Synonyms
throb (Suggests a strong, steady pulse of feeling or activity.)
|
buzz (Suggests lively social energy, often in a place.)
|
hum (Suggests a quieter, continuous lively feeling.)
Antonyms
feel lifeless (Lack energy, activity, or emotion.)
|
fall flat (Fail to create excitement or strong feeling.)
Themes
emotions
|arts
|society
Definition
To feel strongly energetic or emotional.
To seem alive with strong activity, energy, or emotion, as if filled with vibrations.
Grammar
Dictionary form
vibrate
IPA
GB/vˈaɪbɹeɪt/
US/vˈaɪbɹeɪt/
Syllables & stress
vi - brate (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (vi)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: vibrate
- 3rd Person Singular: vibrates
- Present Participle: vibrating
- Past: vibrated
Expressions
on vibrate
1/ˈɔn vˈaɪbɹeɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
in vibration-notification mode
In a mode where the phone vibrates, not rings.
Examples
- Sorry—I had my phone on vibrate and didn’t notice.
- Keep your phone on vibrate in the theater.
Learner examples
- My phone is on vibrate.
- Keep it on vibrate.
put [your phone] on vibrate
1/pˈʊt jˈʊɹ fˈoʊn ˈɔn vˈaɪbɹeɪt/
fixed phrase
switch phone to vibration alerts
Change your phone so it vibrates, not rings.
Examples
- Please put your phone on vibrate before the movie starts.
- I always put my phone on vibrate when I’m at work.
Learner examples
- Put your phone on vibrate.
- I put my phone on vibrate in class.
set [your phone] to vibrate
1/sˈɛt jˈʊɹ fˈoʊn tə vˈaɪbɹeɪt/
fixed phrase
configure phone to vibrate
Change your phone settings so it vibrates.
Examples
- I set my phone to vibrate during meetings.
- If you’re in the library, set your phone to vibrate.
Learner examples
- I set my phone to vibrate.
- Set it to vibrate, please.