agitate
[ aj-i-teyt ]
/ ˈædʒ ɪˌteɪt /
verb (used with object), ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing.
verb (used without object), ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing.
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.
SYNONYMS FOR agitate
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Origin of agitate
1580–90; <Latin agitātus (past participle of agitāre to set in motion), equivalent to ag- (root of agere to drive) + -it- frequentative suffix + -ātus-ate1
OTHER WORDS FROM agitate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for agitate
Women in a number of countries had been agitating for the vote before the First World War, and the argument was that you don’t have a stake in society in the way men do, so you should stay at home.
Humans Have Gotten Nicer and Better at Making War - Issue 94: Evolving|Steve Paulson|January 6, 2021|NautilusThe challenge facing Pelosi is markedly different from the one she faced two years ago, when a platoon of lawmakers agitated for her and other top honchos to step aside for a younger generation of leaders.
Pelosi’s likely final term as speaker is set to begin with a scramble for votes|Mike DeBonis|January 2, 2021|Washington PostAlexion has been actively shopping for a buyer since at least May, when activist hedge fund Elliott Management began publicly agitating for a sale.
Why shareholders had a severe adverse reaction to AstraZeneca’s Alexion deal|Jeremy Kahn|December 14, 2020|FortuneThe researchers knew that humans get agitated when confronted with a lack of social contact—but the neurological basis for those emotions wasn’t well known before, they said.
You’re not crazy—you really hunger for social contact, scientists say|kdunn6|November 24, 2020|Fortune
British Dictionary definitions for agitate
agitate
/ (ˈædʒɪˌteɪt) /
verb
(tr) to excite, disturb, or trouble (a person, the mind, or feelings); worry
(tr) to cause to move vigorously; shake, stir, or disturb
(intr; often foll by for or against) to attempt to stir up public opinion for or against something
(tr) to discuss or debate in order to draw attention to or gain support for (a cause, etc)to agitate a political cause
Derived forms of agitate
agitated, adjectiveagitatedly, adverbWord Origin for agitate
C16: from Latin agitātus, from agitāre to move to and fro, set into motion, from agere to act, do
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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