excite

[ik-sahyt]

verb (used with object)

excited, exciting 

1. to arouse or stir up the emotions or feelings of.

   to excite a person to anger; actions that excited his father's wrath.

   Synonyms: inflame, kindle, animate, stimulate, awaken, stir

2. to arouse or stir up (emotions or feelings).

   to excite jealousy or hatred.

   Synonyms: evoke

3. to cause; awaken.

   to excite interest or curiosity.

4. to stir to action; provoke or stir up.

   to excite a dog by baiting him.

   Synonyms: ruffle, agitate, disturb

5. Physiology.,  to stimulate.

   to excite a nerve.

6. Electricity.,  to supply with electricity for producing electric activity or a magnetic field.

   to excite a dynamo.

7. Physics.,  to raise (an atom, molecule, etc.) to an excited state.

excite

/ ɪkˈsaɪt /

verb

1. to arouse (a person) to strong feeling, esp to pleasurable anticipation or nervous agitation

2. to arouse or elicit (an emotion, response, etc); evoke

   her answers excited curiosity

3. to cause or bring about; stir up

   to excite a rebellion

4. to arouse sexually

5. physiol to cause a response in or increase the activity of (an organ, tissue, or part); stimulate

6. to raise (an atom, molecule, electron, nucleus, etc) from the ground state to a higher energy level

7. to supply electricity to (the coils of a generator or motor) in order to create a magnetic field

8. to supply a signal to a stage of an active electronic circuit

Other Word Forms

• preexcite verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of excite¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin excitāre, from ex- ex- ¹ + citāre “to move repeatedly, set in motion, summon” (from ciēre “to arouse, cause to go, move”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of excite¹

C14: from Latin excitāre, from exciēre to stimulate, from ciēre to set in motion, rouse

Example Sentences

This was a moment that confirmed McIlroy as the sport's most exciting talent on the planet; golf at its most glorious.

From BBC

Widely acknowledged to be one of the best goalkeepers in history, Van der Sar was genuinely excited for Onana's move to United and was still backing him after a disappointing first season.

From BBC

Fiji captain 'excited but a little bit emotional'

From BBC

“Especially what Yoshi did, everybody was so excited and happy for him. And to lose, that was tough. So it was pretty down.”

From Los Angeles Times

"I'm just so happy my game's in good shape. I feel like I'm playing well and I'm excited for what's coming up."

From BBC

Related Words

• agitate 
• amaze 
• anger 
• animate 
• annoy 
• astound 
• bother 
• delight 
• disturb 
• energize 
• irritate 
• offend 
• thrill 
• turn on 
• vex 
• work up 
• worry