energetic

IPA/ˌenəˈdʒetɪk/
KK[ˌɛnɚdʒˈɛtɪk]IPA/ˌenərˈdʒetɪk/

energetic — adjective

  • energeticpositive
  • more energeticcomparative
  • most energeticsuperlative

1. describes a person, animal, or activity that uses or shows a high level of activ

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a person, animal, or activity that uses or shows a high level of active strength, liveliness, and the ability to keep going without tiring quickly

Example

After just five hours of sleep, Amira still felt energetic enough to go for a morning run.

feel + energetic (after link verb)

The energetic puppy pulled Ezra down the street, eager to reach the park.

energetic + noun (direct modifier of animal)

Common collocations
  • energetic person
  • energetic child
  • energetic puppy
  • energetic workout
  • energetic dance
  • energetic performance
  • feel energetic
  • too energetic to
Synonyms
  • lively

    focuses on brightness, cheerfulness, and social energy; a lively person makes conversations fun, while an energetic person has the stamina to keep going

  • vigorous

    suggests strong, forceful physical effort with power; more intense and formal than energetic

  • active

    broader and less intense; simply describes someone who stays busy or moves regularly, not necessarily with high energy

  • spirited

    combines energy with courage, determination, or enthusiasm; often used for debates, performances, or arguments

Antonyms
  • lazy

    unwilling to use energy or make an effort

  • sluggish

    slow-moving and lacking energy, often due to tiredness or illness

Grammar Patterns

energetic + noun

be/feel/seem + energetic

Usage Note

Can describe both living beings (who have energy) and activities or events (that demand energy). The adverb form 'energetically' is common for describing the manner of an action, e.g. 'She played the game energetically.'

Common Mistakes

The cat was too energetic and slept all afternoon.
The cat was too lazy and slept all afternoon.
energetic describes active liveliness, not the absence of tiredness.
She gave an energetic excuse for being late.
She gave an energetic performance on stage that impressed the judges.
energetic describes lively physical or mental effort, not the content of a spoken excuse.

2. connected with the scientific concept of energy, especially the movement of part

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

connected with the scientific concept of energy, especially the movement of particles, the release of heat, or the changes that occur during a physical or chemical process

Example

Solar panels convert the energetic particles from sunlight into electrical power.

energetic + noun (scientific context — particles)

Dr. Saira studied the energetic changes that happen when water changes to steam.

energetic + noun describing a process (changes)

Common collocations
  • energetic particles
  • energetic changes
  • energetic reactions
  • energetic waves
  • energetic movement
Synonyms
  • kinetic

    specifically about energy of motion in physics; narrower in scope than energetic

  • thermodynamic

    restricted to heat-related energy and systems; more specialised than energetic

Grammar Patterns

energetic + noun (scientific/technical context)

Usage Note

Primarily used in formal, scientific, or technical writing. Distinguish from sense 1 ('FULL OF ENERGY'): 'energetic particles' does not mean 'lively particles' — it means particles carrying or involving measurable physical energy.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe someone or something full of energy, but each has a different focus. Lively emphasises brightness, cheerfulness, and social energy — a lively party has great conversation and laughter, while an energetic party might involve dancing and movement. Vigorous suggests strong, forceful physical effort with real power — a vigorous workout pushes your body hard, whereas an energetic workout keeps you moving briskly. Active is the broadest and mildest term; it simply means involved in movement or action — an active child plays sports, but an energetic child seems to never stop moving. Spirited combines energy with courage, determination, or enthusiasm — a spirited debate is passionate and bold. Energetic sits between them as a general term for anyone or anything showing a high level of active strength, liveliness, and the ability to keep going. A swimmer can be both energetic (keeping up lap after lap) and vigorous (powering through each stroke), but the two words highlight different aspects of the effort.

lively ↗vigorous ↗active ↗spirited ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • incredibly energetic
  • extremely energetic
  • surprisingly energetic
  • constantly energetic

Phrases

  • full of energy (idiomatic equivalent)

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Energetic comes from the Greek word 'energetikos' meaning 'active', which grew out of 'energeia' meaning 'activity' or 'operation'. The Greek root combines 'en-' (meaning 'in') and 'ergon' (meaning 'work'). The word travelled into English through Latin and then French. The everyday meaning of being lively and active has been around for centuries, while the physics meaning developed in the 1800s as scientists began to understand energy as a measurable physical quantity.