First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
excite
verb ex·cite \ik-ˈsīt, ek-\
: to cause feelings of enthusiasm in (someone) : to make (someone) feel energetic and eager to do something
: to cause (a particular emotion or reaction) to be felt or to happen
: to increase the activity of (something, such as nerve tissue)
ex·cit·edex·cit·ing
Full Definition of EXCITE
transitive verb
1
a : to call to activity b : to rouse to an emotional response <scenes to excite the hardest man to pity> c : to arouse (as a strong emotional response) by appropriate stimuli <excite enthusiasm for the new regime — Arthur Knight>
2
a : energize <excite an electromagnet> b : to produce a magnetic field in <excite a dynamo>
3
: to increase the activity of (as a living organism) : stimulate
4
: to raise (as an atomic nucleus, an atom, or a molecule) to a higher energy level
— ex·cit·ed·ly \-ˈsī-təd-lē\ adverb
See excite defined for English-language learners
See excite defined for kids
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Origin of EXCITE
Middle English, from Anglo-French exciter, from Latin excitare, from ex- + citare to rouse — more at cite
Related to EXCITE
- Synonyms
- charge, electrify, thrill, exhilarate, galvanize, intoxicate, pump up, titillate, turn on
Synonym Discussion of EXCITE
provoke, excite, stimulate, pique, quicken mean to arouse as if by pricking. provoke directs attention to the response called forth <my stories usually provoke laughter>. excite implies a stirring up or moving profoundly <news that excited anger and frustration>. stimulate suggests a rousing out of lethargy, quiescence, or indifference <stimulating conversation>. pique suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge <that remark piqued my interest>. quicken implies beneficially stimulating and making active or lively <the high salary quickened her desire to have the job>.
Rhymes with EXCITE
affright, air right, airtight, albite, Albright, alight, all right, all-night, a mite, aright, backbite, backlight, bauxite, bedight, birthright, black light, bleed white, bobwhite, bombsight, box kite, calcite, campsite, catfight, cockfight, contrite, cordite, Cushite, daylight, deadlight, delight, dendrite, despite, dogfight, downlight, downright, droplight, dust mite, earthlight, eyebright, eyesight, fanlight, felsite, ferrite, finite, fire blight, firefight, firelight, first night, fistfight, flashlight, fleabite, floodlight, foresight, forthright, fortnight, freewrite, frostbite, Gadite, gall mite, gaslight, gastight, ghostwrite, goethite, graphite, green light, gummite, gunfight, half-light, halite, Hamite, handwrite, headlight, highlight, hindsight, Hittite, homesite, hoplite, Hussite, ignite, illite, infight, in-flight, incite, indict, indite, insight, in sight, invite, jacklight, jadeite, key light, lamplight, late blight, leucite, Levite, lighttight, lignite, limelight, lintwhite, lowlight, Lucite, Luddite, lyddite, marmite, Melchite, Memphite, midnight, millwright, moonlight, New Right, night-light, nitrite, off-site, off-white, on sight, on-site, outright, outsight, partite, peep sight, penlight, perlite, playwright, polite, preflight, prizefight, pyrite, quartzite, ratite, recite, red light, red-light, requite, respite, rewrite, rushlight, rust mite, safelight, samite, searchlight, Semite, Servite, Shemite, Shiite, shipwright, sidelight, sit tight, skintight, skylight, skywrite, slant height, smectite, snakebite, snow-white, sound bite, spaceflight, spotlight, stage fright, starlight, sternite, sticktight, stoplight, streetlight, stylite, sulfite, sunlight, Sunnite, taillight, termite, thermite, tonight, torchlight, trothplight, Twelfth Night, twilight, twi-night, typewrite, unite, unsight, upright, uptight, wainwright, watch night, wax light, Web site, weeknight, wheelwright, white flight, white knight, x-height, zinc white
EXCITE Defined for Kids
excite
verb ex·cite \ik-ˈsīt\
ex·cit·edex·cit·ing
Definition of EXCITE for Kids
1
: to stir up feeling in <The announcement excited the children.>
2
: to increase the activity of <This chemical excites nerve cells.>
Medical Dictionary
excite
transitive verb ex·cite \ik-ˈsīt\
ex·cit·edex·cit·ing
Medical Definition of EXCITE
1
: to increase the activity of (as a living organism) : stimulate
2
: to raise (as an atomic nucleus, an atom, or a molecule) to a higher energy level
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