excite

[ ik-sahyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·cit·ed, ex·cit·ing.

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

/ 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

Other Words From

• preex·cite verb (used with object) preexcited preexciting

Word History and Origins

Origin of excite¹

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”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of excite¹

C14: from Latin excitāre, from exciēre to stimulate, from ciēre to set in motion, rouse

Example Sentences

I don’t think she’s perfect and I wouldn’t have picked her over other progressives, but bodily autonomy is incredibly important to me, and even though the Dems toe the line of the status quo in a way that doesn’t excite or impress, they seem to be way less hellbent on controlling individual people’s biologies and health choices.

From Slate

There are plenty of slick A.I. features to excite Apple fans, and to complement the brand’s new custom-chip-powered hardware: “Writing Tools” for proofreading and editing messages, overhauls of Siri and the Mail app, the added ability to record and transcribe phone calls, and upgrades to the search and edit functions for your photo albums.

From Slate

The leader of another new Florida organization, the progressive and nonpartisan Youth Action Fund, sees Amendment 4 as a chance to excite Gen Z–ers about politics after a dispiriting few years.

From Slate

“It represents a very practical way of activating and expanding the youth electorate,” Driggers said, because, in his experience, young people are far more motivated to vote for policies that excite them than against ones that don’t.

From Slate

The supporters want a Manchester United team who excite and attack.

From BBC

Related Words

• agitate
• amaze
• anger
• animate
• annoy
• astound
• bother
• delight
• disturb
• energize
• irritate
• offend
• thrill
• turn on
• vex
• work up
• worry