Vibrate Meaning
/vaɪˈbɹeɪt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo shake with small, rapid movements to and fro.
verbTo resonate.
Sentence Examples
Passengers became nervous when the plane began to vibrate.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Because I turned off the sound, my phone will ____ when I get a call.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The phone began to ____ on the desk after I received a text message from an old friend.
Word Origin & History
The adjective (then also used as a participle) is first attested in 1420, in Middle English, the verb in 1620; partly from Middle English vibrat(e) (“reverberant”), partly directly borrowed from Latin vibrātus, perfect passive participle of vibrō (“to agitate, set in tremulous motion”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyp- (“to oscillate, swing”) or *weyb-.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"When "God save the King!" resounded meow meow through the stately abbey, the banners vibrating with the mighty music, I felt quite enthusiastic in my loyalty."
— 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Coronation”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 5:
"The tender roared along vibrating vigorously; braking had resulted in "flats" on most of its tyres."
— 1951 October, R. S. McNaught, “Lines of Approach”, in Railway Magazine, page 706:
"Breath vocalized, i.e., vibrated or undulated, may […] impress a swift, tremulous motion."
— 1669, William Holder, Elements of Speech: An Essay of Inquiry into the Natural Production of Letters: […], London: […] T. N[ewcomb] for J[ohn] Martyn printer to the R[oyal] Society, […], →OCLC:
"Star to star vibrates light: may soul to soul / Strike thro' a finer element of her own?"
— 1864, Alfred Tennyson, “Aylmer’s Field”, in Enoch Arden, &c., London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 81:
"And if he wants to give you high praise, he'll answer, "That vibrates me"; "That has a large charge"; or "That's oogley.""
— 1949, Ladies' Home Journal, volume 66, page 115:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Because I turned off the sound, my phone will ____ when I get a call.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The phone began to ____ on the desk after I received a text message from an old friend.