verb

agitate

A-jih-tayt

Agitate (verb) means to make someone anxious, upset, or unsettled. Example: “The news of the delay agitated the already nervous passengers.”

verb

To make someone anxious, upset, or unsettled.

"The news of the delay agitated the already nervous passengers."

"Loud noises seem to agitate the baby."

To shake or stir something with force.

"Agitate the mixture gently before pouring it into the mould."

To campaign publicly and persistently for a political or social cause.

"Activists agitated for years to get the law changed."

How to Use Agitate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo stir something up — literally (shaking a liquid) or figuratively (making someone anxious, or campaigning loudly for change).

Common pairings

agitate the mixture agitate for change visibly agitated

Word Forms

agitated past tense, agitates singular

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The news of the delay _____ the already nervous passengers.

Etymology

From Latin agitare, "to keep moving, drive on" — a frequentative form of agere, "to drive or move," the same root as "act" and "agent."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for agitate

ate date rate mate fate gate hate pate late Nate Kate cate

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “agitate” mean?

The word “agitate” means to make someone anxious, upset, or unsettled. In plain terms, to stir something up — literally (shaking a liquid) or figuratively (making someone anxious, or campaigning loudly for change).

How do you pronounce “agitate”?

“Agitate” is pronounced A-jih-tayt (/ˈæ.d͡ʒɪ.teɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “agitate” in a sentence?

Here is “agitate” used in a sentence: “The news of the delay agitated the already nervous passengers.”

What part of speech is “agitate”?

“Agitate” is a verb.

Where does the word “agitate” come from?

The word “agitate” comes from Latin. From Latin agitare, "to keep moving, drive on" — a frequentative form of agere, "to drive or move," the same root as "act" and "agent.".

How many meanings does “agitate” have?

“Agitate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make someone anxious, upset, or unsettled.

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Words With Latin Origins