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

These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices.

From Los Angeles Times

So the Dodgers can strengthen baseball’s best lineup, deepen their historic batting order, tighten their versatile defense, become even more exciting, more enchanting, more unbeatable.

From Los Angeles Times

“I was really excited to be part of something that he was doing.”

From BBC

The team is excited about their new findings and the significant potential it has in developing new treatments for age-related muscle atrophy along with other health condition related to impaired muscle regeneration.

From Science Daily

Bellamy has also instilled an exciting new style of play - bold and creative on the ball, tenacious and relentless out of possession.

From BBC

Related Words

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