agitate

[ aj-i-teyt ]
See synonyms for: agitateagitatedagitatingagitable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing.
  1. to move or force into violent, irregular action: The hurricane winds agitated the sea.

  2. to shake or move briskly: The machine agitated the mixture.

  1. to move to and fro; impart regular motion to.

  2. to disturb or excite emotionally; arouse; perturb: a crowd agitated to a frenzy by impassioned oratory; a man agitated by disquieting news.

  3. to call attention to by speech or writing; discuss; debate: to agitate the question.

  4. to consider on all sides; revolve in the mind; plan.

verb (used without object),ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing.
  1. to arouse or attempt to arouse public interest and support, as in some political or social cause or theory: to agitate for the repeal of a tax.

Origin of agitate

1
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”

Other words for agitate

Opposites for agitate

Other words from agitate

  • ag·i·ta·ble [aj-i-tuh-buhl], /ˈædʒ ɪ tə bəl/, adjective
  • ag·i·ta·tive, adjective
  • o·ver·ag·i·tate, verb (used with object), o·ver·ag·i·tat·ed, o·ver·ag·i·tat·ing.
  • pre·ag·i·tate, verb (used with object), pre·ag·i·tat·ed, pre·ag·i·tat·ing.
  • re·ag·i·tate, verb, re·ag·i·tat·ed, re·ag·i·tat·ing.

Words Nearby agitate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use agitate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for agitate

agitate

/ (ˈædʒɪˌteɪt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to excite, disturb, or trouble (a person, the mind, or feelings); worry

  2. (tr) to cause to move vigorously; shake, stir, or disturb

  1. (intr; often foll by for or against) to attempt to stir up public opinion for or against something

  2. (tr) to discuss or debate in order to draw attention to or gain support for (a cause, etc): to agitate a political cause

Origin of agitate

1
C16: from Latin agitātus, from agitāre to move to and fro, set into motion, from agere to act, do

Derived forms of agitate

  • agitated, adjective
  • agitatedly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012