invigorate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
invigorates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
invigorated,
past participle, past
-
invigorating
present participle
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
-
invigorationnoun
-
invigoratornoun
-
reinvigorationnoun
-
reinvigorateverb (used with object)
-
invigoratingadjective
-
invigorativeadjective
-
uninvigoratedadjective
-
uninvigorativeadjective
-
invigoratinglyadverb
-
invigorativelyadverb
-
uninvigorativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
invigoratesimple
-
invigoratessimple
-
have invigoratedperfect
-
has invigoratedperfect
-
am invigoratingprogressive
-
are invigoratingprogressive
-
is invigoratingprogressive
-
have been invigoratingperfect progressive
-
has been invigoratingperfect progressive
Past
-
invigoratedsimple
-
had invigoratedperfect
-
was invigoratingprogressive
-
were invigoratingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
George Washington's Farewell Address (1796)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Princess Bride
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
The company said Oliveira would bring “fresh perspective that is expected to invigorate Heineken.”
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
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
Both said they believe lifting the financial burdens associated with a degree could help to invigorate the field.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2026
“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
Tio Fello dragged her off right after Christmas because he found her very thin and sad and thought the mountain air would invigorate her.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
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
“Will the sense of exhaustion overcome the inspiration that invigorates so many?” he asked.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 17, 2023
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
Nothing invigorates the singer as much as this.
From Great Singers on the Art of Singing Educational Conferences with Foremost Artists by James Francis Cooke
The ongoing data-center build-out has invigorated new product cycles and pricing power for these businesses.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 28, 2026
He emerged as the leader of an invigorated opposition, leading it to its strongest-ever performance in the 2013 elections.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2025
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
We pushed each other to try things that scared us both, things that left us breathless, bruised and invigorated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2025
I must admit that your blind raging invigorated me.
From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury
The invigorating brass or woody bass of salsa, son and cha-cha-cha are all but gone.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
“I found her very invigorating and certainly challenging,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026
Mr. Stob describes their approach as “an invigorating, democratic message for a searching, democratic age.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 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 few who found it invigorating tended to be men who had waded in its “river of death,” Sinclair’s phrase, and panned from it great fortunes.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
