resonate
gb/ɹˈɛzənˌeɪt/ us/ɹˈɛzənˌeɪt/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
state
1
feel meaningful or strongly relevant
If something resonates, it feels important and you relate to it.
Usage pattern:
[message/idea/story] resonates (with [someone/audience])
Common mistake:
Learners may use it like a direct transitive verb (*resonate someone*). In standard English it usually needs “with” for the person affected.
Synonyms
strike a chord (More idiomatic; emphasizes an emotional response.)
|
connect (More general and less expressive.)
|
ring true (Focuses on seeming true rather than moving.)
Antonyms
fall flat (Fails to interest or move people.)
|
miss the mark (Does not match what people want or expect.)
Collocations
resonate with me
|resonate with readers
|resonate with audiences
|resonate with voters
|resonate deeply
|resonate strongly
|resonate most
|resonate emotionally
|resonate widely
|resonate with people
Themes
communication
|emotions
|media
Examples
- Her speech about housing costs really resonated with young families.
- The film resonated because it showed ordinary friendships in a believable way.
- That line about burnout resonated with a lot of people at the company.
Learner examples
- This story resonates with me.
- His message resonated with the audience.
Verb
B2
event
2
make a deep, echoing sound
If a sound resonates, it is strong and echoes.
Usage pattern:
[sound/voice/instrument] resonates (through/in [place])
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse “resonate” with “reasonate” (incorrect spelling).
Synonyms
reverberate (More formal; focuses on repeated echoes.)
|
ring (Often suggests a clear, bell-like sound.)
|
echo (Emphasizes the sound reflecting back.)
Antonyms
muffle (To make a sound quieter and less clear.)
|
fade (To become gradually quieter.)
Collocations
resonate through the hall
|resonate in the room
|resonate around the stadium
|resonate loudly
|resonate clearly
|resonate in my ears
|a resonating voice
|resonate like a bell
Themes
sound
|music
|daily_life
Examples
- The anthem resonated through the stadium as the crowd sang along.
- Her voice resonated in the auditorium without a microphone.
- A single gunshot resonated across the empty street.
Learner examples
- The bell resonated through the building.
Verb
C1
process
3
continue to have an effect
If something resonates, it keeps affecting people later.
Usage pattern:
[event/decision/words] resonates (for [time]) (in/through [place/group])
Synonyms
linger (Suggests staying present, especially in memory or feeling.)
|
echo (Highlights the idea of repeated or continuing effects.)
|
reverberate (Often used metaphorically for far-reaching consequences.)
Antonyms
be forgotten (No lasting memory or impact remains.)
|
fade away (The impact gradually disappears.)
Collocations
resonate for years
|resonate long after
|resonate throughout history
|resonate in public debate
|resonate in people's minds
|resonate beyond
|resonate across generations
Themes
society
|history
|emotions
Examples
- The scandal resonated for years and shaped how people viewed the party.
- Her warning about misinformation continues to resonate in political debates.
- The images from the disaster resonated long after the news cycle moved on.
Learner examples
- His words still resonate today.
Verb
technical
C1
process
4
vibrate at a natural frequency
In science, if something resonates, it vibrates strongly at a certain frequency.
Usage pattern:
[object/system] resonates (at [frequency]) (with [source])
Synonyms
vibrate (More general; does not imply a matching natural frequency.)
|
oscillate (Technical; emphasizes repeated motion.)
Antonyms
dampen (Reduce vibrations or prevent strong oscillation.)
|
stabilize (Prevent oscillation from growing.)
Collocations
resonate at a frequency
|resonate with the vibration
|resonate in sympathy
|resonate strongly
|resonate mechanically
|resonate acoustically
|resonate with the signal
Themes
science
|engineering
|sound
Examples
- The bridge began to resonate at the same frequency as the wind-driven oscillations.
- At certain pitches, the glass can resonate and even crack.
- Engineers added supports to keep the structure from resonating under load.
Learner examples
- The object resonates at a certain frequency.
Verb
C1
relation
5
be similar and strongly suggest
If something resonates with something else, it reminds you of it because it is similar.
Usage pattern:
[detail/idea] resonates with [something earlier/another idea]
Common mistake:
This meaning is close to “remind” or “echo,” but “resonate” usually suggests a stronger, more meaningful similarity.
Synonyms
echo (Emphasizes resemblance or repetition of an earlier idea.)
|
call to mind (More explicit about triggering a memory.)
Antonyms
differ (Does not share important similarities.)
|
contrast (Highlights differences rather than similarities.)
Collocations
resonate with earlier work
|resonate with the theme
|resonate with the past
|resonate with traditions
|resonate with previous findings
|resonate with the title
Themes
communication
|culture
Examples
- The novel’s opening resonates with classic detective stories.
- Her latest painting resonates with the themes she explored in her earlier work.
- That design choice resonates with the company’s original branding.
Learner examples
- This idea resonates with my experience.
Grammar
Dictionary form
resonate
IPA
GB/ɹˈɛzənˌeɪt/
US/ɹˈɛzənˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
res - on - ate (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (res)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: resonate
- 3rd Person Singular: resonates
- Present Participle: resonating
- Past: resonated
Expressions
resonate for years
1/ɹˈɛzənˌeɪt fɚ jˈɪɹz/
fixed phrase
keep having effects for years
If something resonates for years, it keeps affecting people for a long time.
Examples
- The court ruling resonated for years and changed how the law was interpreted.
- The team’s surprise victory resonated for years with local fans.
- Her resignation resonated for years inside the organization.
resonate through (something)
1/ɹˈɛzənˌeɪt θɹˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
echo loudly through a place
If a sound resonates through a place, you can hear it echo everywhere there.
Examples
- Their laughter resonated through the empty house.
- A low drumbeat resonated through the theatre.
- The announcement resonated through the station.
resonate with someone
1/ɹˈɛzənˌeɪt wˈɪθ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
feel personally meaningful to someone
If something resonates with you, you feel it is true or important for you.
Examples
- The coach’s advice resonated with me more than I expected.
- Her comments about grief resonated with people who had been through similar losses.
- The brand’s focus on repairable products resonates with younger customers.