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Synonyms

excite

American  
[ik-sahyt] / ɪkˈsaɪt /

verb (used with object)

excited, exciting
  1. to arouse or stir up the emotions or feelings of.

    to excite a person to anger; actions that excited his father's wrath.

    Synonyms:
    inflame, kindle, animate, stimulate, awaken, stir
  2. to arouse or stir up (emotions or feelings).

    to excite jealousy or hatred.

    Synonyms:
    evoke
  3. to cause; awaken.

    to excite interest or curiosity.

  4. to stir to action; provoke or stir up.

    to excite a dog by baiting him.

    Synonyms:
    ruffle, agitate, disturb
  5. Physiology. to stimulate.

    to excite a nerve.

  6. Electricity. to supply with electricity for producing electric activity or a magnetic field.

    to excite a dynamo.

  7. Physics. to raise (an atom, molecule, etc.) to an excited state.


excite British  
/ ɪkˈsaɪt /

verb

  1. to arouse (a person) to strong feeling, esp to pleasurable anticipation or nervous agitation

  2. to arouse or elicit (an emotion, response, etc); evoke

    her answers excited curiosity

  3. to cause or bring about; stir up

    to excite a rebellion

  4. to arouse sexually

  5. physiol to cause a response in or increase the activity of (an organ, tissue, or part); stimulate

  6. to raise (an atom, molecule, electron, nucleus, etc) from the ground state to a higher energy level

  7. to supply electricity to (the coils of a generator or motor) in order to create a magnetic field

  8. to supply a signal to a stage of an active electronic circuit

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • preexcite verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of excite

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin excitāre, from ex- ex- 1 + citāre “to move repeatedly, set in motion, summon” (from ciēre “to arouse, cause to go, move”)

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.

So it does make me feel good to see the community be excited for us to play a show.”

From Los Angeles Times

What was the scene where you just felt so free and happy or excited?

From Los Angeles Times

As exciting as this great ape baby boom is for L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Here, excited conversation isn’t drowned out by pre-movie reels, and the screen is revealed with spectacle when the motorized curtain opens, instead of projecting a slew of advertisements from the moment one enters the auditorium.

From Salon

I'm excited to get the vending machine fully stocked with a great variety of options.

From The Wall Street Journal