vibrate
veye-BRAYT
Vibrate (verb) means to shake with small, rapid back-and-forth movements. Example: “The whole table vibrated when the truck drove past.”
verb
1
To shake with small, rapid back-and-forth movements.
"The whole table vibrated when the truck drove past."
"Her phone vibrated in her pocket during the meeting."
2
To resonate or produce a trembling sound.
"The bass made the windows vibrate."
How to use vibrate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo shake rapidly, or to make something shake.
Common pairings
vibrate constantly
phone vibrates
set something vibrating
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like vibrate.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- vibrates
- Past tense
- vibrated
- Comparative
- more vibrate
- Superlative
- most vibrate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The whole table _____ when the truck drove past.
Etymology
From Latin vibratus, the past participle of vibrare, "to shake or set in tremulous motion."
Related words
Rhymes for vibrate
See all rhymes for vibrate →Frequently asked questions
What does “vibrate” mean?
The word “vibrate” means to shake with small, rapid back-and-forth movements. In plain terms, to shake rapidly, or to make something shake.
How do you pronounce “vibrate”?
“Vibrate” is pronounced veye-BRAYT (/ˈvaɪ.bɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “vibrate” in a sentence?
Here is “vibrate” used in a sentence: “The whole table vibrated when the truck drove past.”
What part of speech is “vibrate”?
“Vibrate” is a verb.
Where does the word “vibrate” come from?
The word “vibrate” comes from Latin. From Latin vibratus, the past participle of vibrare, "to shake or set in tremulous motion.".
How many meanings does “vibrate” have?
“Vibrate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to shake with small, rapid back-and-forth movements.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include vibrate:
