Dictionary / resilient
resilient
- adjective
- from Latin
Returning quickly to original shape after force is applied; elastic. (of objects or substances)
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “resilient” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
adjective
- Returning quickly to original shape after force is applied; elastic. (of objects or substances)
- Returning quickly to original shape after force is applied; elastic. (of objects or substances)Having the ability to absorb energy when deformed.
- Returning quickly to normal after damaging events or conditions. (of systems, organisms or people)
He’s resilient, and strong, but sometimes tonight, here, the weight of what he’s saying makes him stop, pause as if lost.1994, Michael Grumley, The Last Diary:
- Returning quickly to normal after damaging events or conditions. (of systems, organisms or people)Having the ability to recover from mental illness, trauma, etc.; having resilience.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (2)
- adjectiverecovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
- adjectiveelastic; rebounds readily — also: bouncy, live, lively, springy
Synonyms: bendable, flexible, strong
Antonyms: brittle, fragile
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)resilient
- Latinresiliēns
- Latinsaliō “leap, jump”
From Latin resiliēns, resilientem (“rebounding”, present active participle of resiliō) (whence -ent), from saliō (“leap, jump”).
Derivatives — words built from “resilient”
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “resilient” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “resilient” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
resilient a. [L. resiliens, p. pr.]
- Leaping back; rebounding; recoiling.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
adjectiveMeaning: Returning quickly to normal after damaging events or conditions. (of systems, organisms or people)
He’s resilient, and strong, but sometimes tonight, here, the weight of what he’s saying makes him stop, pause as if lost.1994, Michael Grumley, The Last Diary:
adjectiveMeaning: elastic; rebounds readily
as resilient as seasoned hickory
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
resilient
/ɹɪˈzɪl.jənt/
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
resilient
/ɹɪˈzɪl.jənt/ · adjective
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “resilient” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “resilient” and what each means:
Step 4 — Original meaning
The earliest traceable form is Latin saliō. What did it mean?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 5 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — resilient
Origin: C. Latin (Latin resiliēns)
Journey: English resilient ← Latin resiliēns ← Latin saliō
Some derivatives: cyberresilient, irresilient, nonresilient, resilience, resiliently, ultraresilient, unresilient
Original meaning: Latin saliō — “leap, jump”
Etymology: From Latin resiliēns, resilientem (“rebounding”, present active participle of resiliō) (whence -ent), from saliō (“leap, jump”).
Sources: Wiktionary “resilient” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/resilient#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/resilient