excite
11 synonyms and 3 antonyms for excite, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To stir up strong feelings in someone, especially enthusiasm or eagerness.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use excite
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
excite interest
excite an electron
excite the crowd
Etymology
From Old French exciter, from Latin excitare, "to call forth or rouse" — from ex ("out") plus ciere ("to set in motion").
Full origin of excite →Frequently asked questions
What does “excite” mean?
The word “excite” means to stir up strong feelings in someone, especially enthusiasm or eagerness. In plain terms, to get someone worked up (in a good way) or, in science, to bump something up to a higher energy state.
How do you pronounce “excite”?
“Excite” is pronounced ihk-SYT (/ɪkˈsaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “excite” in a sentence?
Here is “excite” used in a sentence: “The trailer excited fans months before the film came out.”
What part of speech is “excite”?
“Excite” is a verb.
Where does the word “excite” come from?
The word “excite” comes from Latin. From Old French exciter, from Latin excitare, "to call forth or rouse" — from ex ("out") plus ciere ("to set in motion").
Is “excite” a common word?
“Excite” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “excite” have?
“Excite” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stir up strong feelings in someone, especially enthusiasm or eagerness.
