agitate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to move or force into violent, irregular action.
The hurricane winds agitated the sea.
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to shake or move briskly.
The machine agitated the mixture.
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to move to and fro; impart regular motion to.
- Synonyms:
- wave
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to disturb or excite emotionally; arouse; perturb.
a crowd agitated to a frenzy by impassioned oratory; a man agitated by disquieting news.
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to call attention to by speech or writing; discuss; debate.
to agitate the question.
- Synonyms:
- dispute
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to consider on all sides; revolve in the mind; plan.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr) to excite, disturb, or trouble (a person, the mind, or feelings); worry
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(tr) to cause to move vigorously; shake, stir, or disturb
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(intr; often foll by for or against) to attempt to stir up public opinion for or against something
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(tr) to discuss or debate in order to draw attention to or gain support for (a cause, etc)
to agitate a political cause
Usage
What does agitate mean? To agitate someone is to make them feel anxious, bothered, or worried. Someone who feels this way can be described as agitated. Things that make you feel this way can be described as agitating.To agitate something is to shake it up, stir it up, or cause it to move around roughly, as in The storm agitated the water, stirring up huge waves. The noun agitation refers to the act or process of agitating in this way. It also commonly refers to the state or feeling of being agitated, as in There is a lot of agitation among the employees who have not yet been paid. The verb agitate is also used in a more specific way to mean to attempt to promote support or opposition for a political or social cause, especially by repeatedly raising the issue and bringing awareness to it. The act of doing this can be called agitation, and a person who does this can be called an agitator.Example: The cable news channel blaring in the waiting room really agitates me—they really shouldn’t have that around people who are about to get their blood pressure taken.
Other Word Forms
- agitable adjective
- agitated adjective
- agitatedly adverb
- agitative adjective
- overagitate verb (used with object)
- preagitate verb (used with object)
- reagitate verb
Etymology
Origin of agitate
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin agitātus, past participle of agitāre “to set in motion,” literally, “to do repeatedly,” from agere “to do, drive”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They are notorious goons, despised virtually everywhere for their ability to agitate, aggrieve and annoy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026
Lai previously told visitors there would be "no surprises" in his national day address, in a bid to reassure them that he would not do anything further to agitate Beijing.
From BBC • Oct. 9, 2024
It appeared to agitate Cannon, who questioned the prosecution about why it was being brought up for the first time at the hearing.
From Salon • Oct. 13, 2023
Ocelots and jaguars prowl the forest, and spider monkeys and black howlers agitate the canopy.
From Science Magazine • Oct. 11, 2023
Its aim was to agitate for a national constitutional convention for all South Africans.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
