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View synonyms for

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

    to excite jealousy or hatred.

    Synonyms:
  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: , ,
  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

/ ɪˈɪ /

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
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Other Word Forms

  • preexcite verb (used with object)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of excite1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin 泦, from ex- ex- 1 + “to move repeatedly, set in motion, summon” (from ŧ “to arouse, cause to go, move”)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of excite1

C14: from Latin 泦, from exŧ to stimulate, from ŧ to set in motion, rouse
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He said the new record, made in the north of England with his best mates, was his "most ambitious and exciting music to date".

From

Michael Shanks, who is also the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, said the government was exploring a range of "exciting and viable" projects to secure a long-term transition for the site.

From

Philly gets excited every time we get within three blocks of dropping him off with dog handler Burke Stuart, of Man’s Best Friend, so he can run around with his pack.

From

It’s so sad because I’ve been in the business for 40 years and still get excited when I go on a lot.

From

He took the data home because he wanted to "continue and complete the most exciting and challenging work the defendant had ever undertaken" in the hope of gaining future employment at GCHQ, Ms Grahame said.

From

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