excite

ex·cite

transitive verb \ik-ˈsīt, ek-\

ex·cit·edex·cit·ing

Definition of EXCITE

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

Examples of EXCITE

1. ideas that excite young people
2. Our announcement excited the children.
3. The posters excited much interest in the show.

Origin of EXCITE

Middle English, from Anglo-French exciter, from Latin excitare, from ex- + citare to rouse — more at cite

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to EXCITE

Synonyms

charge, electrify, thrill, exhilarate, galvanize, intoxicate, pump up, titillate, turn on

Related Words

arouse, incite, inspire, provoke, stimulate; bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), hypnotize, mesmerize, rivet, spellbind; interest, intrigue, tantalize

Near Antonyms

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary; deject, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

See Synonym Discussion at provoke

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

ex·cite

transitive verb \ik-ˈsīt\   (Medical Dictionary)

ex·cit·ed; ex·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