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noun Uncommon

agitation

aj-ih-TAY-shuhn

Agitation (noun) means a state of anxiety, restlessness, or emotional disturbance. Example: “You could hear the agitation in her voice on the phone.”

noun
1
A state of anxiety, restlessness, or emotional disturbance.
"You could hear the agitation in her voice on the phone."
"The dog's agitation grew worse during the thunderstorm."
2
Organized, public effort to push for political or social change.
"Decades of agitation eventually led to voting reform."
3
The act of stirring or shaking something, especially to mix it.
"Gentle agitation helps dissolve the powder evenly."

How to use agitation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA stirred-up state — of emotions, of a liquid being mixed, or of people campaigning for change.

Common pairings
state of agitation political agitation signs of agitation

Word forms

agitations plural

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Etymology

From Latin agitatio, "movement, agitation," from the verb agitare.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for agitation

See all rhymes for agitation →

Frequently asked questions

What does “agitation” mean?

The word “agitation” means a state of anxiety, restlessness, or emotional disturbance. In plain terms, a stirred-up state — of emotions, of a liquid being mixed, or of people campaigning for change.

How do you pronounce “agitation”?

“Agitation” is pronounced aj-ih-TAY-shuhn (/ædʒ.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “agitation” in a sentence?

Here is “agitation” used in a sentence: “You could hear the agitation in her voice on the phone.”

What is another word for “agitation”?

Words with a similar meaning to “agitation” include emotion, commotion, excitement, trepidation, tremor and perturbation.

What part of speech is “agitation”?

“Agitation” is a noun.

Where does the word “agitation” come from?

The word “agitation” comes from Latin. From Latin agitatio, "movement, agitation," from the verb agitare.

Is “agitation” a common word?

“Agitation” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “agitation” have?

“Agitation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a state of anxiety, restlessness, or emotional disturbance.

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