Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

excite

American  
[ik-sahyt] / ɪkˈsaɪt /

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 British  
/ 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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • preexcite verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of excite

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”)

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.

“I’m really excited to actually have a football field” and “actually be in a high school for the first time.”

From Los Angeles Times

The results of their hard work were met with excited cheers and shouts from hundreds of onlookers who braved the sleety weather to watch the daytime procession.

From BBC

“Thank you God. I’m beyond excited and extremely grateful for all the love and support from the coaches, players, and fans,” Sanders said in a statement released by the Browns.

From Los Angeles Times

There were 58 singles in his innings as he rotated the strike at will, finding the gaps, manipulating the field - this isn't the exciting stuff but it is bedrock of what makes Root great.

From BBC

I’m not worried about whether she’s excited to meet me.

From Literature