palpitate
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to pulsate with unusual rapidity from exertion, emotion, disease, etc.; flutter.
His heart palpitated wildly.
-
to pulsate; quiver; throb; tremble.
verb (used with object)
verb
-
(of the heart) to beat with abnormal rapidity
-
to flutter or tremble
Usage
What does palpitate mean? Palpitate means to pulse, throb, or tremble. The word palpitate is most commonly used in the context of the beating of the heart. When your heart palpitates, it beats more quickly or in a fluttering way. A heart palpitation is an unusually or abnormally rapid or violent beating of the heart. Heart palpitations typically involve the heart beating hard and faster, and they may also involve an irregularity in rhythm. Less commonly, palpitate can mean to make thob or tremble. The noun palpitation can also refer to the act, process, or an instance of palpitating. Example: My doctor said my heart may be palpitating due to a combination of stress and too much caffeine.
Related Words
See pulsate.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of palpitate
1615–25; < Latin palpitātus, past participle of palpitāre to pulsate, frequentative of palpāre to stroke. See palpus, -ate 1
Explanation
When you watch scary movies, do you ever feel your heart palpitate? This means it beats quickly. To correctly pronounce palpitate, say: "PAL-pih-tate." Hearts aren't the only thing that can palpitate; your whole body might palpitate, or shiver. You can also palpitate something, such as what a medical professional does to a patient's heart to make it beat, potentially saving his or her life. Palpitate comes from the Latin word palpare, "to stroke."
Vocabulary lists containing palpitate
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"By Any Other Name"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“Seeing the hospital’s name come across caller ID, it caused my heart to palpitate a bit.”
From Washington Post • Jun. 17, 2019
Walker: I mean, at first, it probably made my heart, like, palpitate, and be like, “Aw.”
From Slate • Jun. 6, 2017
Tracks murmur and thrum or surge and palpitate, flush with bleary murk and melodic curlicues reminiscent of earthen atmosphere and galactic ascent alike.
From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2016
And although it made her heart palpitate temporarily, the remote danger of a heart attack seemed more bearable than losing her hearing.
From Nature • Oct. 9, 2013
Damp with condensation, the brick walls appeared to palpitate in the lantern light, thrumming with the resounding force of the steam-powered engines and machinery in the rooms above.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
