reverberant

reverberant — adjective

  • reverberantpositive
  • more reverberantcomparative
  • most reverberantsuperlative

1. describes a room, hall, or other space whose hard surfaces cause sound waves to

1.形容詞C2
釋義

describes a room, hall, or other space whose hard surfaces cause sound waves to bounce back, producing echoes or a prolonged sound rather than absorbing them.

例句

The old stone church had a reverberant interior that made every whisper echo.

attributive use: reverberant + noun (interior)

Elena disliked the reverberant hallway because footsteps sounded like drums.

同義詞
  • echoing

    more general and less formal; describes any space or situation where sound repeats

  • resonant

    emphasises the fullness and depth of the reflected sound rather than just the echo effect

反義詞
  • anechoic

    technical term for a space designed to absorb all sound reflections

  • sound-absorbing

    describes materials or spaces that prevent echoes from forming

用法筆記

Typically describes physical spaces (halls, churches, stairwells) or hard surfaces whose shape or material reflects rather than absorbs sound. Compare with sense 2, which describes the sound itself rather than the space producing it.

常見錯誤

❌The reverberant voice filled the hall.
✅The singer's voice filled the reverberant hall.
💡Sense 1 describes the space that causes echoes, not the sound. Use sense 2 for the quality of a voice or sound.

2. describes a sound, voice, or noise that is deep, full, and seems to continue or

2.形容詞C2
釋義

describes a sound, voice, or noise that is deep, full, and seems to continue or echo for a moment before fading — for example, a cello note vibrating through a wooden floor, or an actor's laugh carrying across a large room.

例句

The singer's reverberant voice filled the theater without any microphone.

attributive: reverberant + noun (voice)

Maeve was startled by a reverberant boom of thunder above her house.

collocation: reverberant boom

同義詞
  • resonant

    very close in meaning but slightly more common; can describe both sounds and spaces

  • sonorous

    more literary and formal; emphasizes a rich, impressive depth of sound

  • ringing

    less formal; focuses on a clear, sharp, lingering quality rather than depth

反義詞
  • muffled

    describes a sound that is dull or hard to hear, as if absorbed or blocked

  • muted

    describes a sound that has been softened or suppressed

用法筆記

Restricted to sounds that are noticeably deep and lingering — not used for ordinary noises or quiet, short sounds. Frequently modifies voice, laugh, note, boom, or ring. Also found in literary and descriptive writing.

常見錯誤

❌The reverberant church made every note echo.
✅The church made every note sound reverberant.
💡Sense 2 describes the sound quality, not the space. Use sense 1 for the space itself.