excited state

American  

noun

Physics.

1. any of the energy levels of a physical system, especially an atom, molecule, etc., that has higher energy than the lowest energy level.

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excited state Scientific  

/ ĭk-sī′tĭd /

1. A state of a physical system in which the system has more than the minimum possible potential energy. Excited states tend to be unstable and easily or spontaneously revert to lower energy states, giving off energy.

2. Compare ground state

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Etymology

Origin of excited state

First recorded in 1925–30

Compare meaning

How does excited-state compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ground state vs. excited state

Example Sentences

According to Grzywacz, the nucleus begins in an excited state and must release energy to stabilize.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

To capture the protons in this excited state and explore their 3D resonances, the team sent a high-energy electron beam into a chamber of cooled hydrogen gas.

From Salon • Sep. 1, 2023

As a result, the lawmaker said, Prigozhin, committed treason due to "exorbitant ambitions", money and what he cast as an "excited state".

From Reuters • Jun. 29, 2023

This change means the BEC's quantum state has jumped from its ground state to its first excited state.

From Scientific American • Jun. 18, 2023

And more as a consequence of the excited state in which this idea put Gregor than as a result of an actual decision, he swung himself with all his might out of the bed.

From "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka