palpitate

1 of 2

verb

pal·​pi·​tate ˈpal-pə-ˌtāt 

palpitated; palpitating

intransitive verb

: to beat rapidly and strongly : throb

My heart began to palpitate when I was announced as the winner.

palpitation

2 of 2

noun

pal·​pi·​ta·​tion ˌpal-pə-ˈtā-shən 

: a rapid pulsation

especially : an abnormally rapid or irregular beating of the heart (such as that caused by panic, arrhythmia, or strenuous physical exercise)

Synonyms of palpitate

Verb

• throb
• beat
• vibrate
• pulse

Noun

• pulse
• throb

Examples of palpitate in a Sentence

Verb

My heart began to palpitate when I was announced as the winner.

the man's heart began to palpitate, and he feared another attack was coming on

Noun

a palpitation of the blood vessels

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The past three seasons, their games were marked by palpitating comebacks. — New York Times, 23 Nov. 2019

In one of the raciest vignettes, a man buys and eats fresh dumplings on a train, intermittently palpitating his sore gums with his fingers. — Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 8 May 2020

Noun

Symptoms include swelling in the legs, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, heart palpitations, dizziness and fainting. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 6 May 2026

No doubt the sofa gymnastics gave plenty of soccer fans in the US heart palpitations. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin palpitatus, past participle of palpitare, frequentative of palpare to stroke

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1623, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

palpitate

verb

pal·​pi·​tate ˈpal-pə-ˌtāt 

palpitated; palpitating

: to beat rapidly and strongly : throb, quiver

Medical Definition

palpitate

intransitive verb

pal·​pi·​tate ˈpal-pə-ˌtāt 

palpitated; palpitating

: to beat rapidly, irregularly, or forcibly

—used especially of the heart