agitate
C1Formal or literary; also common in political/social contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To make someone feel upset, anxious, or angry, often by repeatedly troubling them; to stir up or shake something physically.
To campaign or argue strongly for a social or political change; to disturb or unsettle the normal state of something (e.g., a liquid, a situation).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries a connotation of repeated, persistent disturbance. In political contexts ('agitate for reform'), it implies active campaigning, not merely complaining.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in UK English in formal political discourse.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word can imply a degree of 'stirring up trouble', sometimes viewed negatively ('outside agitators').
Frequency
Low-frequency word in everyday speech; higher frequency in academic, political, or technical writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[sb] agitates for/against [sth][sth] agitates [sb][sth] is agitatedVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stir up a hornet's nest (related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The new regulations agitated the markets.'
Academic
'The study agitated for a paradigm shift in economic theory.'
Everyday
'Loud noises really agitate the baby.'
Technical
'Agitate the solution gently to avoid precipitation.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The proposal to close the local library agitated the community for months.
- He was known to agitate for better workers' rights.
American English
- The loud protesters agitated the crowd outside the courthouse.
- She spent years agitating for environmental policy changes.
adverb
British English
- He paced agitatedly around the waiting room.
- She spoke agitatedly about the injustice.
American English
- The dog barked agitatedly at the mail carrier.
- He gestured agitatedly during the argument.
adjective
British English
- The agitated customer demanded to see the manager.
- He spoke in an agitated manner.
American English
- She became increasingly agitated as the deadline approached.
- His agitated state was obvious to everyone.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The dog barks when he gets agitated.
- Don't agitate the water in the glass.
- Bad news can agitate people.
- The workers agitated for safer conditions.
- The controversial article agitated public opinion.
- Activists have been agitating against the new law for weeks.
- His inflammatory speech served only to further agitate an already volatile situation.
- The philosopher's ideas agitated the intellectual community, prompting fierce debate.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a washing machine AGITATOR (the central post) violently stirring the clothes – it AGITATES them.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL UNREST / MENTAL DISTURBANCE IS A STORMY LIQUID (e.g., 'agitated waters', 'agitated mind').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with Russian 'агитировать' (to campaign, propagandize). 'Agitate' in English is broader, covering emotional disturbance. Russian 'волновать' or 'беспокоить' are closer for emotional sense.
- Translating 'the news agitated him' as 'новости его агитировали' is incorrect; use 'взволновали' or 'встревожили'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'agitate' with 'irritate' (more superficial annoyance).
- Using 'agitate' transitively for a cause without 'for': Wrong: 'They agitated reform.' Correct: 'They agitated *for* reform.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'agitate' CORRECTLY in a political context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Agitate' implies a deeper, more persistent disturbance causing anxiety or unrest. 'Irritate' is milder, causing annoyance or mild anger (e.g., a noisy fan irritates; a life-threatening rumour agitates).
Rarely. Even in 'agitate for change', it carries a connotation of stirring up the status quo, which can be viewed as disruptive. It is usually neutral or negative.
Often yes ('troublemaker'), but in political/historical contexts, it can be neutral or positive ('social agitator' fighting for justice). Context is key.
It is fairly formal. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'upset', 'bother', 'disturb', or 'stir up'. 'Agitate' is common in writing and formal speech.