reverberate
reverberate — verb
1. When a loud or deep sound moves through an area and keeps being heard because th
When a loud or deep sound moves through an area and keeps being heard because the surfaces around it reflect the sound waves.
The church bells reverberated across the quiet valley at noon.
reverberate + across [space]
Yasmin's final note reverberated through the hall long after she stopped singing.
reverberate + through [space]
A loud crash from the kitchen reverberated off the stone walls.
reverberate + off [surface]
The heavy drumbeats reverberated throughout the wooden theatre during the show.
reverberate + throughout [enclosed space]
Eitan could feel the bass from the speakers reverberating inside his chest.
- reverberate across
- reverberate through
- reverberate throughout
- reverberate off
- sound reverberates
- voice reverberates
- echo reverberates
Grammar Patterns
reverberate + through/across/throughout/off + [place]
Usage Note
Subject is nearly always a sound, especially one that is loud, low, or deep. The spatial preposition is required — without it the sentence feels incomplete.
Common Mistakes
2. When an event, decision, or piece of news spreads widely through a group or soci
When an event, decision, or piece of news spreads widely through a group or society, causing a strong and often lasting effect on people.
The news of the factory closing reverberated through the small town.
reverberate + through [community] for figurative effect
Otis knew his resignation would reverberate across the entire department for weeks.
The political scandal continued to reverberate for months after the election.
continue to reverberate + for [duration]
Those policy changes still reverberate throughout the education system today.
reverberate + throughout [system] with still for ongoing effect
- news reverberates
- decision reverberates
- scandal reverberates
- effects reverberate
- reverberate across
- reverberate through
- reverberate throughout
- still reverberates
- continue to reverberate
- resonate
more common in figurative contexts; suggests emotional or intellectual impact rather than broad social effect
- ripple through
less formal; suggests a gradual spreading effect
- echo
can describe events having continuing effects but is less intense than reverberate
- fizzle out
an event loses its impact quickly without spreading widely
Grammar Patterns
reverberate + through/across + [community/system]
reverberate + for + [duration]
Usage Note
Figurative extension of the sound sense. Subject is commonly an event, decision, announcement, or scandal that affects a community, organisation, or system. Frequently used with still, continue to, or for + period to emphasise that the effect lasts.
Common Mistakes
reverberate — adjective
1. Describes a space or surface where sounds echo noticeably, often because the mat
Describes a space or surface where sounds echo noticeably, often because the materials are hard and reflect sound waves.
The cathedral's reverberant walls made the choir sound even more beautiful.
reverberant + [feature of space]
They chose a less reverberant room for the recording to keep the audio clear.
Jisoo loved the reverberant acoustics of the old stone chapel near her home.
reverberant + acoustics
The reverberant hallway echoed every footstep long after the students left.
- reverberant space
- reverberant acoustics
- reverberant walls
- reverberant hallway
- reverberant chamber
Grammar Patterns
reverberant + [noun describing a space or its feature]
Usage Note
More common in formal, descriptive, or technical writing (acoustics, architecture) than in everyday conversation. Describes a property of a space that makes sounds echo — not the sound itself.