Dictionary

excite en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɪkˈsaɪt/
• ĭk-sītʹ
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English exciten, from Old French exciter, from Latin excitō (“to call out, call forth, arouse, wake up, stimulate”), frequentative of excieō (“to call out, arouse, excite”), from ex (“out”) + cieō (“to call, summon”). See cite and compare to accite, concite, incite.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To stir the emotions of; to cause to feel excitement.
   • The fireworks which opened the festivities excited anyone present.
2. (transitive) To arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate.
   • The political reforms excited unrest among the population.
   • [S]he assured them […] that they had better follow her to a place of safety. They were at length excited, by her mere importunance to leave the room, and soon after the house. 1840, Randolph Roscoe, The Emerald (page 53)
   • [S]eint Poul seith and to the Romayns he hath writen that bi heeringe of swich ringinge men haven the feith perfytliche so that he putte not the ringinge in the scrippe but it exiteth the memorie in what manere men shulden bileeue [c. 1430, Guillaume de Deguileville, chapter LXXXXIX, in [anonymous], transl., edited by William Aldis Wright, The Pilgrimage of the Lyf of the Manhode. From the French (Cambridge University Library, MS Kk.1.7) (in Middle English), London: Printed for the Roxburghe Club; J[ohn] B[owyer] Nichols and Sons, […], published 1869, →OCLC, 1st part, folio 39, page 54:
   • Favoritism tends to excite jealousy in the ones not being favored.
   • Smugglers operating secretly so as not to excite suspicion.
3. (transitive) To cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state; to promote an electron to an outer level.
   • By applying electric potential to the neon atoms, the electrons become excited, then emit a photon when returning to normal.
4. To energize (an electromagnet); to produce a magnetic field in.
   • to excite a dynamo

Forms

Antonyms

calm · relax

Deriveds

preexcite · superexcite · excitable · excitron · exciteful · sexcite · overexcite · excitability · deexcite · excitative · excitosome · excitive · self-excite · photoexcite · exciton

Relateds

excitement · excitation

Synonyms

electrify · goad · obligate · vitalise · spark off · kindle · rouse · light a fire under · send · provoke · fillip · suscitate · ignite · egg on · promote · stir · invoke · yerk · sharpen · stimulate · stoke · goose · set off · touch · draw · induce · motive · prompt · encourage · rouse · galvanize · oblige · stir the blood · affect · incite · quicken · enkindle · intoxicate · whet · engender · lash · fuel · inflame · spur on · exhilarate · sting · set fire to · fire · motivate · bring about · send · grill · foment · move · whet · excite · ignite · actuate · move · inflame · evoke · enflame · set on fire · instigate · warm the blood · instigate · provoke · enthrill · abet · thrill · exsuscitate · fire · cheer · spur · wake · work up · push · impel · tempt · gin up · animate · whip up · awaken · drive · stir up · exagitate · fire the blood · urge · wind up · excite

Translations (90)

es emocionar (to stir the emotions of) · ru возбуди́ть (to stir the emotions of) · hi उत्साहित करना (to stir the emotions of) · ka აგზნება (to stir the emotions of) · bg подбуждам (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · it eccitare (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · fo øsa (to stir the emotions of) · it accendere (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · grc ὄρνυμι (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · mi whakawana (to stir the emotions of) · eo elvoki (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · de erregen (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · ru возбужда́ть (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · de anregen (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · sw sisimua (to stir the emotions of) · cs podnítit (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · fi herättää (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · fr exciter (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · ja 活性化させる (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · ru возбуди́ть (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · fi innostaa (to stir the emotions of) · fi synnyttää (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · bg стимулирам (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · he עורר (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · hi उत्तेजित करना (to stir the emotions of) · ro excita (to stir the emotions of) · ja 励起する (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · ru взволнова́ть (to stir the emotions of) · he ליבה (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · ka სტიმულირება (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · it provocare (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · ru возбужда́ть (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · ka სტიმულაცია (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · he עורר (to stir the emotions of) · tr teşvik etmek (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · fr exciter (to stir the emotions of) · mi whakaihiihi (to stir the emotions of) · ru стимули́ровать (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · ru возбуди́ть (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · pt animar (to stir the emotions of) · nl prikkelen (to stir the emotions of) · ga ardaigh (to stir the emotions of) · cs excitovat (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · mi whakakenakena (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · ja 刺激する (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · mr उत्तेजित करणे (to stir the emotions of) · fi virittää (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · cmn 激動 /激动 (to stir the emotions of) · la commoveō (to stir the emotions of) · grc ὄρνυμι (to stir the emotions of) · ca emocionar (to stir the emotions of) · ja 興奮させる (to stir the emotions of) · ru возбужда́ть (to stir the emotions of) · it stimolare (to stir the emotions of) · bg възбуждам (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · hy գրգռել (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · de erregen (to stir the emotions of) · mr उत्तेजित करणे (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · es excitar (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · it riaccendere (to stir the emotions of) · fr exciter (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · ru волнова́ть (to stir the emotions of) · it stimolare (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · bg вълнувам (to stir the emotions of) · sw sisimua (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · cmn 激發 /激发 (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · tr heyecanlandırmak (to stir the emotions of) · nl exciteren (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · es estimular (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · it eccitare (to stir the emotions of) · cs vzrušit (to stir the emotions of) · he עורר (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · pt comover (to stir the emotions of) · sq n'zit (to stir the emotions of) · ka აღელვება (to stir the emotions of) · ka შეგულიანება (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · nl stimuleren (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · la excitō (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · is æsa (to stir the emotions of) · nl opwinden (to stir the emotions of) · ang onǣlan (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · he הלהיב (to stir the emotions of) · he דירבן (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · eo eksciti (to stir the emotions of) · pt provocar (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · nl prikkelen (to arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate) · hy գրգռել (to stir the emotions of) · pt empolgar (to stir the emotions of) · sv excitera (to cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state) · fi kiihottaa (to stir the emotions of)