excite
[verb]
Synonyms: arouse, animate, galvanize, inflame, inspire, provoke, rouse, stir up, thrill

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Antonyms: quiet
Contrasted words: allay, placate, soothe, depress, dishearten
Related Idioms: set astir, set on fire, stir the blood
Related Words: agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, perturb, stir up, impassion, charge (up), energize, touch off, turn on, move, fire

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ex‧cite /ɪkˈsaɪt/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: adjective: excitable, excited, exciting ≠ unexciting, excitable; noun: excitement, excitability; adverb: excitedly, excitingly; verb: excite]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: exciter, from Latin excitare, from citare 'to set in movement']

1. [not in progressive] to make someone feel happy, interested, or eager:
His playing is technically brilliant, but it doesn’t excite me.

2. formal to cause a particular feeling or reaction Synonym : arouse
excite interest/curiosity/sympathy etc
The court case has excited a lot of public interest.
He tried not to do anything to excite the suspicion of the police.
excite comment/speculation/a reaction
The book excited very little comment.

3. to make someone feel sexual desire Synonym : arouse

4. technical to make an organ, nerve etc in your body react or increase its activity

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

excite

excite interest
She is a talented young actress who has excited a lot of interest.
excite curiosity
Rumours of hidden treasure excited our curiosity.
excite sympathy
She sought to excite the jury's sympathy at every possible opportunity.
excite anger
The government's proposals have excited anger among teachers.
excite hatred/hostility
He accused sections of the media of trying to excite racial hatred.
excite a reaction
The figures are unlikely to excite any reaction on the money markets.
excite comments
The film excited a lot of favourable comments, both here and in America.
excite rumours British English, excite rumors AmE:
The photographs excited rumours that their marriage is over.
excite speculation (=encourage people to discuss something when they do not know the facts)
The cut in US interest rates excited speculation of a similar cut in the UK.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲