Reverberate
Word of the Day
What is Reverberate?
verb
To echo or resound; to have a continuing or lasting effect.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Selected to show how words, actions, and events often reverberate far beyond their original moment — in hearts, minds, and histories.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
The blast reverberated across the valley.
His message of hope continued to reverberate through the community.
The cultural impact of that decision still reverberates today.
Word Origins
Latin reverberare, from re- (again) + verberare (to beat, lash)
Originally meant “to strike back”; used in physics and poetry to describe echoes, ripples, and resonance.
First appearance in English: 15th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
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Noun:
The reverberation of the speech could still be felt days later.
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Adjective:
The hall had a deep, reverberant quality.
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Verb:
The cheers resounded through the stadium.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: reverberar
- French: réverbérer
- German: widerhallen
- Italian: riverberare
- Portuguese: reverberar
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Echo
An “echo” is usually short and literal; “reverberate” suggests lasting, layered impact.
Ripple
“Ripple” implies spreading impact; “reverberate” adds a sense of powerful resonance.
Resonate
“Resonate” implies emotional or intellectual impact; “reverberate” includes physical or sound-based depth.
Fun Facts
- Reverberation is a key acoustic principle and is different from a simple echo — it involves persistence of sound.
- NASA tests spacecraft in reverberation chambers to simulate the intense sound pressure of launch.
Cultural Usage
- In poetry and fiction, the emotional resonance of a line can reverberate through generations.
- Cathedrals are designed to let sound reverberate for dramatic and spiritual effect.
Common Mistakes
Often misused as just “repeat”; it implies deeper, lasting, and often emotional or physical continuation.
Micro Story
Her words reverberated in his mind long after the conversation had ended.