invigorate
Americanverb (used with object)
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invigorates,
present (3rd person singular)
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invigorated,
past participle, past
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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
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invigorationnoun
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invigoratornoun
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reinvigorationnoun
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reinvigorateverb (used with object)
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invigoratingadjective
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invigorativeadjective
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uninvigoratedadjective
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uninvigorativeadjective
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invigoratinglyadverb
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invigorativelyadverb
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uninvigorativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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invigoratesimple
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invigoratessimple
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have invigoratedperfect
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has invigoratedperfect
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am invigoratingprogressive
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are invigoratingprogressive
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is invigoratingprogressive
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have been invigoratingperfect progressive
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has been invigoratingperfect progressive
Past
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invigoratedsimple
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had invigoratedperfect
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was invigoratingprogressive
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were invigoratingprogressive
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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
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George Washington's Farewell Address (1796)
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The Princess Bride
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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:
“Revelations like this could invigorate native Amerindians in the same way that the Indus Valley Civilization stirred people in India,” Mr. Kean writes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 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
The bank’s broader AI basket, meanwhile, is showing “a sharp pickup in anticipated growth dominance in 2026 which we think has helped to invigorate the AI theme even more in recent trading.”
From Barron's ● May 8, 2026
But it’s also an argument for how immigration can invigorate and inspire creation, including from countries such as Venezuela that have come under fire from the American government.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2025
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
“It really invigorates audiences’ senses — not just momentarily for the purpose of entertainment.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 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
How Gypsum impels and invigorates vegetable growth, I do not pretend to know; but that it does so was demonstrated by Nature long before Man took the hint that she freely gave.
From What I know of farming: a series of brief and plain expositions of practical agriculture as an art based upon science by Horace Greeley
The ongoing data-center build-out has invigorated new product cycles and pricing power for these businesses.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 28, 2026
Munger appeared invigorated by the meetings, the last of which took place 10 days before his death.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
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
The conductor lifts his baton, and I'm invigorated hearing the familiar passages: the drone of the double bass as the heartrending introduction begins, the strings peeling away layers like birch bark.
From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper
There was something invigorating watching a band deemed too evil and provocative for a country tour who got an even bigger offer to spit fake blood in each other’s mouths on stage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
After holding Michelsen off, Tiafoe took the match to a deciding set where the pair traded multiple breaks of serve - invigorating the spectators on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
As a collection of ideas about the human condition, ripe for interpretation, it’s invigorating.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026
The invigorating brass or woody bass of salsa, son and cha-cha-cha are all but gone.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
When Ana returned from Seatown, her cheeks were blooming with what Lady Isobel described as the invigorating sea air.
From "Ash" by Malinda Lo
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
