agitation
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A state of nervous excitement, worry, or anxiety; the process of shaking or stirring something.
Public protest or campaigning aimed at achieving political or social change; in physics/chemistry, the act of stirring a liquid; in medicine, a state of physical restlessness.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a state noun describing emotional or political activity. It can be used both for internal feelings and for external, organized campaigns. The 'stirring' sense is technical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The political campaigning sense is slightly more historical in both, though still used.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a significant, active disturbance rather than a mild feeling.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English in political/historical contexts (e.g., 'Chartist agitation').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
agitation about/over/for somethingagitation among a groupin a state of agitationwith agitationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He was in a state of high agitation.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Stock market agitation caused by unexpected news.
Academic
The period was marked by significant social agitation for reform.
Everyday
She tried to hide her agitation before the interview.
Technical
The solution requires constant agitation to prevent settling.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The union continued to agitate for better working conditions.
- Don't agitate the wasps' nest.
American English
- Protesters agitated against the new policy.
- Agitate the mixture gently for two minutes.
adverb
British English
- She paced agitatedly around the room.
American English
- He spoke agitatedly about the incident.
adjective
British English
- He became very agitated when he heard the news.
- The agitated crowd waited for an announcement.
American English
- She sounded agitated on the phone.
- The agitated patient required reassurance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The dog showed agitation during the storm.
- She felt some agitation before her trip.
- There was growing agitation among the workers about pay.
- He tried to calm his agitation by taking deep breaths.
- The political agitation led to a change in the law.
- Her voice betrayed her inner agitation.
- The century was characterised by constant agitation for electoral reform.
- The chemical process requires precise agitation at a controlled temperature.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of someone **AGITAT**ing a sign (like in a protest) and feeling nervous—both show AGITATION.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION IS A STORM/TURBULENT LIQUID (e.g., 'a wave of agitation', 'stirred up agitation').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not "agitacija" in the sense of a propaganda campaign. The Russian word often implies organized persuasion, while English 'agitation' implies protest or anxiety.
- Avoid direct translation for 'волнение' in all contexts; 'excitement' or 'nervousness' may be better for positive/neutral feelings.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for mild everyday worry (overuse).
- Confusing with 'agitation' as a positive, energetic state (it's nearly always negative or neutral).
- Incorrect: 'I have an agitation about the test.' Correct: 'I feel agitation about the test.' or 'I am agitated about the test.'
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'agitation' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly yes. It describes anxiety, disturbance, or protest. The 'stirring' sense is neutral, but the emotional/political senses are negative.
'Anxiety' is a broader, more internal feeling of worry. 'Agitation' implies that the worry is visible through restless behaviour or action.
Yes, in chemistry or biology it refers to the act of stirring or shaking a mixture, e.g., 'The sample needs vigorous agitation.'
The verb is 'to agitate'. It can mean to make someone worried/nervous ('The news agitated him') or to stir/shake something ('Agitate the bottle'), or to campaign publicly ('They agitated for change').
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