First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
agitate
verb ag·i·tate \ˈa-jə-ˌtāt\
: to disturb, excite, or anger (someone)
: to try to get people to support or oppose something
: to move or stir up (a liquid)
ag·i·tat·edag·i·tat·ing
Full Definition of AGITATE
transitive verb
1
a obsolete : to give motion to b : to move with an irregular, rapid, or violent action <the storm agitated the sea>
2
: to excite and often trouble the mind or feelings of : disturb
3
a : to discuss excitedly and earnestly b : to stir up public discussion of
intransitive verb
: to attempt to arouse public feeling <agitated for better schools>
— ag·i·tat·ed·ly adverb
— ag·i·ta·tion \ˌa-jə-ˈtā-shən\ noun
— ag·i·ta·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-nəl\ adjective
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Origin of AGITATE
Latin agitatus, past participle of agitare, frequentative of agere to drive — more at agent
Related to AGITATE
Synonym Discussion of AGITATE
shake, agitate, rock, convulse mean to move up and down or to and fro with some violence. shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose <shake well before using>. agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring <an ocean agitated by storms>. rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval <the whole city was rocked by the explosion>. convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm <spectators were convulsed with laughter>.
discompose, disquiet, disturb, perturb, agitate, upset, fluster mean to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action. discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress <discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife>. disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind <the disquieting news of factories closing>. disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption <the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me>. perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions <perturbed by her husband's strange behavior>. agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement <in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work>. upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief <the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child>. fluster suggests bewildered agitation <his declaration of love completely flustered her>.
discompose, disquiet, disturb, perturb, agitate, upset, fluster mean to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action. discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress <discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife>. disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind <the disquieting news of factories closing>. disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption <the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me>. perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions <perturbed by her husband's strange behavior>. agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement <in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work>. upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief <the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child>. fluster suggests bewildered agitation <his declaration of love completely flustered her>.
Rhymes with AGITATE
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AGITATION Defined for Kids
agitate
verb ag·i·tate \ˈa-jə-ˌtāt\
ag·i·tat·edag·i·tat·ing
Definition of AGITATE for Kids
1
: to move or stir up <The water was agitated by wind.>
2
: disturb, excite, or anger <She was agitated by the bad news.>
3
: to try to stir up public feeling <agitate for change>
— ag·i·ta·tor \-tā-tər\ noun
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