an·i·mat·ed
ˈa-nə-ˌmā-təd 
1
2
: having the appearance of something alive
an unusually animated piece of sculpture
3
: made in the form of an animated cartoon
an animated film
animatedly
adverb
animated
2 of 2past and past participle of animate
Did you know?
Animated cartoon characters have been "given life" by film techniques, though the animation of drawings actually goes back to handheld toys in the 1830s. A child watching the cartoon may also be animated—squealing, laughing, and jumping around—as can a crowd of hockey fans or a rock-concert audience. And the best discussions and arguments are often highly animated.
Examples of animated in a Sentence
Adjective
She gave an animated description of the project.
After dinner, the discussion got more animated.
Many movies for kids are animated rather than live-action.
Recent Examples on the Web
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 1 Aug. 2025
The live-action reimagining of Disney's beloved animated classic made a big splash at the worldwide box office after its release in late May, bringing in more than $300 million in its opening weekend.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 17 July 2025
Gad’s future projects include producing and starring in Amazon’s Spaceballs 2.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has set animated feature The Cat in the Hat for release Feb. 27, 2026, with Bill Hader voicing the titular feline in the Dr. Seuss adaptation.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025
Netflix’s deal with Ubisoft got underway in 2020 and includes multiple Assassin’s Creed projects, including animated and anime series inspired by the games.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for animated
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Adjective
Requirements: Must be at least 16 years old; naturally creative, enthusiastic and animated; able to positively interact non-verbally with guests; able to walk, climb and stand while wearing a heavy, oversized and confining full body character costume for up to 20-30 minutes at a time.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 1 Aug. 2025
The live-action reimagining of Disney's beloved animated classic made a big splash at the worldwide box office after its release in late May, bringing in more than $300 million in its opening weekend.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 17 July 2025
Gad’s future projects include producing and starring in Amazon’s Spaceballs 2.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has set animated feature The Cat in the Hat for release Feb. 27, 2026, with Bill Hader voicing the titular feline in the Dr. Seuss adaptation.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025
Netflix’s deal with Ubisoft got underway in 2020 and includes multiple Assassin’s Creed projects, including animated and anime series inspired by the games.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for animated
Cite this Entry
“Animated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animated. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
animated
adjective
an·i·mat·ed
ˈan-ə-ˌmāt-əd
1
: full of life and energy : lively
2
: appearing to be alive or moving
3
: made in the form of an animated cartoon
an animated movie
animatedly
adverb
Medical Definition
animated
adjective
an·i·mat·ed
-ˌmāt-əd
1
: endowed with life or the qualities of life
2
: full of movement and activity
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