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agitate
[ aj-i-teyt ]
verb (used with object)
- to move or force into violent, irregular action:
The hurricane winds agitated the sea.
- to shake or move briskly:
The machine agitated the mixture.
- to move to and fro; impart regular motion to.
Synonyms: wave
- to disturb or excite emotionally; arouse; perturb:
a crowd agitated to a frenzy by impassioned oratory; a man agitated by disquieting news.
- to call attention to by speech or writing; discuss; debate:
to agitate the question.
Synonyms: dispute
- to consider on all sides; revolve in the mind; plan.
verb (used without object)
- to arouse or attempt to arouse public interest and support, as in some political or social cause or theory:
to agitate for the repeal of a tax.
agitate
/ ˈædʒɪˌteɪt /
verb
- tr to excite, disturb, or trouble (a person, the mind, or feelings); worry
- tr to cause to move vigorously; shake, stir, or disturb
- intr; often foll by for or against to attempt to stir up public opinion for or against something
- tr to discuss or debate in order to draw attention to or gain support for (a cause, etc)
to agitate a political cause
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Derived Forms
- ˈagiˌtated, adjective
- ˈagiˌtatedly, adverb
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Other Words From
- ag·i·ta·ble [aj, -i-t, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
- agi·tative adjective
- over·agi·tate verb (used with object) overagitated overagitating
- pre·agi·tate verb (used with object) preagitated preagitating
- re·agi·tate verb reagitated reagitating
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Word History and Origins
Origin of agitate1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of agitate1
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Example Sentences
He is always calling on “we,” “the population,” or “the people” to rally in the streets and agitate for a better future.
Zamora was handsome, passionate, and used his time on The Real World to educate and agitate.
Their leaders said some 20,000 people turned out to agitate in the Russian capital; officials put the number lower, around 8,000.
When they are out of power Republicans agitate to cut taxes and oppose tax increases.
An American first lady was embracing a brand known for its willingness to push boundaries, to agitate, and even to offend.
I suppose they didn't want to agitate the duke until the last moment and couldn't find Harold until this morning.
This is a painful thought, which, I believe, does much agitate his Majesty now and afterwards.
She herself continued to agitate Cecil and the council by the favours she lavished on Leicester.
These, and other more subtile questions--like the nature of angels--began to agitate the convent in the ninth century.
That question we are too wise to agitate, until the country recovers somewhat from the anxieties and perplexities of the war.
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