agitate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb try to stir up public opinion
    stir up; foment.
  2. verb cause to be agitated, excited, or roused
    commove; turn on; excite; charge up; charge; rouse.
    • The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks
  3. verb exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for
    campaign; fight; push; crusade; press.
    • The liberal party pushed for reforms
    • She is crusading for women's rights
    • The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate
  4. verb move very slightly
    budge; shift; stir.
    • He shifted in his seat
  5. verb move or cause to move back and forth
    shake.
    • The chemist shook the flask vigorously
    • My hands were shaking
  6. verb change the arrangement or position of
    raise up; disturb; commove; stir up; vex; shake up.

WordNet


Ag"i*tate transitive verb
Etymology
L. agitatus, p. p. of agitare to put in motion, fr. agere to move: cf. F. agiter. See Act, Agent.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Agitated present participle & verbal noun Agitating
Definitions
  1. To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea; to agitate water in a vessel. "Winds . . . agitate the air." Cowper.
  2. To move or actuate. R. Thomson.
  3. To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated.
    The mind of man is agitated by various passions. Johnson.
  4. To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy hotly agitated. Boyle.
  5. To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to contrive busily; to devise; to plot; as, politicians agitate desperate designs. Syn. -- To move; shake; excite; rouse; disturb; distract; revolve; discuss; debate; canvass.

Webster 1913