excitable

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​cit·​able ik-ˈsī-tə-bəl 

1

: capable of being readily roused into action or a state of excitement or irritability

2

: capable of being activated by and reacting to stimuli

excitable cells

excitability

ik-ˌsī-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

excitableness

ik-ˈsī-tə-bəl-nəs 

noun

excitability

2 of 2

noun

ex·​cit·​abil·​i·​ty ikˌsītəˈbilətē 

ek-, 

-ītə-, 

-lətē, 

-i

plural -es

: the quality of being excitable

Synonyms of excitable

Adjective

• nervous
• volatile
• anxious
• hyper
• unstable
• hyperactive

Examples of excitable in a Sentence

Adjective

an excitable child who needs a stable home life

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The excitable kids had been instructed several times to give Bryce Young room. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026

Myhrvold, now 66 and still the CEO of Intellectual Ventures, is jolly and excitable in conversation. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026

An unexpected collaboration opportunity is very possible under today’s trine between excitable Mars and erratic Uranus. —Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026

At the Ricardo residence in the ’50s sitcom I Love Lucy, over-the-top housewife Lucy and Ricky, her excitable husband, were always getting into some sort of entertaining hijinks. —Michael Gioia, Architectural Digest, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing excitable

• hyper-excitable

Rhymes for excitable

• copyrightable

Kids Definition

excitable

adjective

ex·​cit·​able ik-ˈsīt-ə-bəl 

1

: easily excited

2

: capable of being excited

excitability

-ˌsīt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

excitable

adjective

ex·​cit·​able ik-ˈsīt-ə-bəl 

of living tissue or an organism

: capable of being activated by and reacting to stimuli : exhibiting irritability

the biochemistry of excitable membranes

—Science

excitability

-ˌsīt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural excitabilities