agitate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to move or force into violent, irregular action.
The hurricane winds agitated the sea.
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to shake or move briskly.
The machine agitated the mixture.
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to move to and fro; impart regular motion to.
- Synonyms:
- wave
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to disturb or excite emotionally; arouse; perturb.
a crowd agitated to a frenzy by impassioned oratory; a man agitated by disquieting news.
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to call attention to by speech or writing; discuss; debate.
to agitate the question.
- Synonyms:
- dispute
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to consider on all sides; revolve in the mind; plan.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr) to excite, disturb, or trouble (a person, the mind, or feelings); worry
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(tr) to cause to move vigorously; shake, stir, or disturb
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(intr; often foll by for or against) to attempt to stir up public opinion for or against something
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(tr) to discuss or debate in order to draw attention to or gain support for (a cause, etc)
to agitate a political cause
Usage
What does agitate mean? To agitate someone is to make them feel anxious, bothered, or worried. Someone who feels this way can be described as agitated. Things that make you feel this way can be described as agitating. To agitate something is to shake it up, stir it up, or cause it to move around roughly, as in The storm agitated the water, stirring up huge waves. The noun agitation refers to the act or process of agitating in this way. It also commonly refers to the state or feeling of being agitated, as in There is a lot of agitation among the employees who have not yet been paid. The verb agitate is also used in a more specific way to mean to attempt to promote support or opposition for a political or social cause, especially by repeatedly raising the issue and bringing awareness to it. The act of doing this can be called agitation, and a person who does this can be called an agitator. Example: The cable news channel blaring in the waiting room really agitates me—they really shouldn’t have that around people who are about to get their blood pressure taken.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of agitate
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin agitātus, past participle of agitāre “to set in motion,” literally, “to do repeatedly,” from agere “to do, drive”
Explanation
Agitate means to stir up. If you watch a horror movie at bedtime, you may be too agitated to sleep. Movies like that can agitate all sorts of adrenaline responses in the body. Agitate derives from a Latin word that means "to drive away." The meaning has changed, but you can see where old meets new—a washing machine agitates dirty clothes in warm soapy water to drive away the dirt. You agitate or shake up salad dressing to mix it, driving the oil away into the vinegar.
Vocabulary lists containing agitate
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 5
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
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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.
“Protest wherever and however you can. Agitate however you can and whomever you can. Inaction is the worst possible thing. And now its consequence is death.”
From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2022
Agitate the pan further and ensure the contents are mixed well.
From The Guardian • Sep. 27, 2016
Agitate took the California Derby two weeks ago, but could not finish better than third at the Santa Anita Derby several weeks earlier.
From Time Magazine Archive
Agitate, aj′i-tāt, v.t. to keep moving: to stir violently: to disturb: to discuss, or keep up the discussion of a question.—n.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Besides, the fiat had gone forth, from their Rebel masters at Richmond, to Agitate the North.
From The Great Conspiracy, Volume 6 by Logan, John Alexander
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.
