Dictionary
aggravate
verb ag·gra·vate \ˈa-grə-ˌvāt\
: to make (an injury, problem, etc.) more serious or severe
: to make (someone) angry : to annoy or bother (someone)
ag·gra·vat·edag·gra·vat·ing
Full Definition of AGGRAVATE
transitive verb
2
: to make worse, more serious, or more severe : intensify unpleasantly <problems have been aggravated by neglect>
3
a : to rouse to displeasure or anger by usually persistent and often petty goading b : to produce inflammation in
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Usage Discussion of AGGRAVATE
Although aggravate has been used in sense 3a since the 17th century, it has been the object of disapproval only since about 1870. It is used in expository prose <when his silly conceit … about his not-very-good early work has begun to aggravate us — William Styron> but seems to be more common in speech and casual writing <a good profession for him, because bus drivers get aggravated — Jackie Gleason (interview, 1986)> <& now this letter comes to aggravate me a thousand times worse — Mark Twain (letter, 1864)>. Sense 2 is far more common than sense 3a in published prose. Such is not the case, however, with aggravation and aggravating. Aggravation is used in sense 3 somewhat more than in its earlier senses; aggravating has practically no use other than to express annoyance.
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Origin of AGGRAVATE
Latin aggravatus, past participle of aggravare to make heavier, from ad- + gravare to burden, from gravis heavy — more at grieve
First Known Use: 1530
Related to AGGRAVATE
Rhymes with AGGRAVATE
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AGGRAVATED Defined for Kids
aggravate
verb ag·gra·vate \ˈa-grə-ˌvāt\
ag·gra·vat·edag·gra·vat·ing
Definition of AGGRAVATE for Kids
1
: to make worse or more serious <aggravate an injury> <Don't aggravate an already bad situation.>
2
: to make angry usually by bothering again and again <All of these delays really aggravate me.>
Word Root of AGGRAVATE
The Latin word gravis, meaning “heavy” or “serious,” gives us the root grav. Words from the Latin gravis have something to do with heaviness or seriousness. Something grave, or important, such as a situation, requires serious thought and consideration. To aggravate is to make a situation more serious. Gravity is a force that pulls everything towards the ground making it feel heavy.
Medical Dictionary
aggravate
transitive verb ag·gra·vate \ˈag-rə-ˌvāt\
ag·gra·vat·edag·gra·vat·ing
Medical Definition of AGGRAVATE
1
: to make worse, more serious, or more severe <movement may aggravate the pain>
2
: to produce inflammation in : irritate <surgery aggravateed the nerve>
Learn More About AGGRAVATE
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