invigorate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Usage
What does invigorate mean? To invigorate is to fill with energy or a feeling of vitality, renewal, or refreshment. Invigorate is especially used in the context of things that make people feel “alive” or renewed or refreshed physically, mentally, and emotionally. Such a state or feeling can be called vigor, which is at the root of invigorate. A close synonym is vitality. In other words, to invigorate is to fill with vigor. Someone who feels this way can be described with the adjective invigorated, as in I feel really invigorated after that long, restful weekend. Something that invigorates can be described with the adjective invigorating, as in I love an invigorating swim in the ocean. Sometimes, invigorate is applied to things other than people to mean something like stimulate or boost, as in These measures are meant to invigorate the economy. Example: Being out in the sunshine invigorates me and makes me feel alive.
Synonym Usage
See animate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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invigorationnoun
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invigoratornoun
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reinvigorationnoun
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reinvigorateverb (used with object)
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invigoratingadjective
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invigorativeadjective
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uninvigoratedadjective
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uninvigorativeadjective
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invigoratinglyadverb
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invigorativelyadverb
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uninvigorativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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invigoratesimple
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invigoratessimple
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have invigoratedperfect
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has invigoratedperfect
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am invigoratingprogressive
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are invigoratingprogressive
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is invigoratingprogressive
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have been invigoratingperfect progressive
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has been invigoratingperfect progressive
Past
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invigoratedsimple
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had invigoratedperfect
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was invigoratingprogressive
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were invigoratingprogressive
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had been invigoratingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of invigorate
First recorded in 1640–50; in- 2 + obsolete vigorate “invigorated”; see vigor, -ate 1
Explanation
Invigorate means to give strength or energy to something or someone. If you're the new cheerleading coach, you can invigorate the team by bringing them your exciting new cheers, and the team’s growing popularity will invigorate them even more. When you invigorate someone, you inspire, you breathe life into them. One of the best ways to invigorate another person is with your own enthusiasm — when you're animated and energetic, it seems to rub off on others. You might need to invigorate yourself when you first wake up in the morning, with a cup of coffee or a shower to get you going for the day. The word invigorate comes from the Latin in, "toward" and vigorare "make strong."
Vocabulary lists containing invigorate
Fahrenheit 451
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George Washington's Farewell Address (1796)
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The Princess Bride
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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.
See Examples For:
In sum, it all sounds less like a good-faith effort to invigorate a vital newsmagazine for modern times—and more like an effort to have it fall apart, piece by piece.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
The bank’s broader AI basket, meanwhile, is showing “a sharp pickup in anticipated growth dominance in 2026 which we think has helped to invigorate the AI theme even more in recent trading.”
From Barron's ● May 8, 2026
And staying curious — all these things that invigorate you are the things that you should be surrounding yourself with, those thoughts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2025
“Diplomatically, I would seize on this and try to revive and invigorate regional cooperation,” said Mr. Rabinovich, the former Israeli ambassador.
From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2024
Chaos agitated me, but it seemed to invigorate Barack.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
This critic is all for so-called color-blind casting; in addition to promoting employment, it invigorates the work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
From one angle, it sounds like her answer to PJ Harvey; the heavy, heated rock sound invigorates O’Connor, freeing her to deliver a clever and impassioned bit of theater.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2023
He wrote that contrology “develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.”
From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2023
As the project progresses, the aroma of sawdust still invigorates me, and I must say, I do miss wearing my tool belt rig all day long while building a new house.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 19, 2022
He depresses the mind, rather than invigorates it.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 122, December, 1867 by Various
Australia won to go 2-0 up and while England, invigorated by the recalled Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, threatened the most spectacular of comebacks, it was not to be.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Through the cheers of an invigorated audience, Bourzgui went on to talk about how “theater is one of the last places people can come to worship the power of true collective human presence.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
The ongoing data-center build-out has invigorated new product cycles and pricing power for these businesses.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 28, 2026
And now that he’s out of the picture, with his shortcomings burning in public recollection, those two ideologies are more invigorated than ever.
From Slate ● Oct. 10, 2025
Despite the ominous tone, and my better instincts, I’d countenanced enough inmate misbehavior and disrespect to feel invigorated by the thought that this is where it all stops.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
“The world that I hope to see created is one in which the people democratically control the wealth that they create with their labor,” Riley says with a mix of calm and charisma that’s invigorating.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
It was invigorating to think of the impact we could have by putting a new narrative out there, helping people feel less alone and find the support they need.
From Slate ● Apr. 23, 2026
The treatment takes place on a heated marble table inside the hammam and begins with a thorough cleansing before moving into an invigorating exfoliating scrub.
From Salon ● Mar. 7, 2026
Glasgow's Third Eye Centre was a fresh and invigorating addition to the Scottish arts scene.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026
People would remember that day with all sorts of adjectives: serene, lovely, cheerful, invigorating, peaceful, quiet, astounding, crystalline, blue.
From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin
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.
