excite

verb

ex·cite | \ ik-ˈsīt,

ek-\

excited; exciting

Definition of excite

transitive verb

1a : to call to activity

b : to rouse to an emotional response scenes to excite the hardest man to pity

c : to arouse (something, such as a strong emotional response) by appropriate stimuli excite enthusiasm for the new regime— Arthur Knight

2a : energize excite an electromagnet

b : to produce a magnetic field in excite a dynamo

3 : to increase the activity of (something, such as a living organism) : stimulate

4 : to raise (an atomic nucleus, an atom, a molecule, etc.) to a higher energy level

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about excite

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of excite in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The hotel restaurant, Bullard, and the bar, Abigail Hall, are exciting in their own right. — Rebecca Misner, Condé Nast Traveler, "What to Do in Portland, OR, in January 2019," 20 Dec. 2018 Known as an asteroid sample return, this kind of mission is exciting for scientists since studying the materials from an asteroid in depth could tell us a great deal about how our Solar System came to be 4.5 billion years ago. — Loren Grush, The Verge, "After a two-year journey, a NASA spacecraft arrives at its target asteroid," 3 Dec. 2018 This is really exciting that these organizations are able to survive beyond just philanthropic dollars. — Eric Johnson, Recode, "Why nonprofits should think more like tech companies," 14 Nov. 2018 That is all well and good, but few issues are exciting the Democratic grassroots right now like Medicare-for-all. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "What the new Democratic House majority might actually pass on health care," 7 Nov. 2018 This season's biggest PSVR games, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission and Firewall: Zero Hour, are both good and bad news for anybody getting excited about the Quest's possibilities. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "Feel better about your PlayStation VR with sweet new games Astro Bot, Firewall," 11 Oct. 2018 Both argued that the key to winning a conservative district was exciting the voters who stayed home in 2016, and convincing working-class Trump voters that Democrats had more to offer than Republicans. — David Weigel, Washington Post, "In Wisconsin, a Democratic star finds himself in a primary brawl," 9 July 2018 Unlike military drones that can cost more than $15 million and look like small airplanes, mini quadcopters can be obtained for a few hundred dollars—and their capabilities are exciting the imaginations of bad guys. — W.j. Hennigan, Time, "Experts Say Drones Pose a National Security Threat — and We Aren’t Ready," 31 May 2018 Every meal is exciting in this cookbook, which features dishes such as Thai Chilli Fish Cakes, Cajun Chicken with Salsa, and Spicy Lamb Skewers. — Indianapolis Star, "eCookbook: Quick and Easy Meals for Slimmers," 30 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'excite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.