Word of the day · 5 August 2026
vivid
/ˈvɪvɪd/
adjective
Producing strong, clear images in the mind; bright and intense.
In a sentence
- She gave a vivid account of the storm that night.
- The mural's vivid blues stopped pedestrians mid-block.
- Childhood summers remain vivid in his mind.
In an image
Origin
From Latin vividus (lively, animated), from vivere (to live).
History
English borrowed vivid in the 1600s for lively force in color and description. Painters and writers claimed it for work that seems alive on the page or canvas. Psychology talks about vivid memories that feel immediate years later. The living root still sits under every modern use.
Nearby words
striking · graphic · intense
Color and memory that feel almost touchable.