excite
B1neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
to cause strong feelings of enthusiasm and eagerness in someone.
to stir up or stimulate a reaction, emotion, or physical state; to arouse interest or activity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a transitive verb. Often describes causing positive anticipation, but can also refer to stimulating nerves, atoms, or electrical circuits in technical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major syntactic differences. The participial adjective 'excited' is slightly more frequent in AmE conversational data.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotations are overwhelmingly positive (eagerness, joy). In technical/scientific contexts (e.g., 'excite an atom'), it is neutral.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, with roughly equal use.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Sb] excites [Sb/St][St] excites [Sb] (e.g., The prospect excites him)to excite [Sb] to [N/V] (archaic/formal, e.g., excite them to action)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “excite comment/attention (formal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The new product launch is designed to excite the market and drive pre-orders.'
Academic
'The discovery has the potential to excite considerable debate within the field.'
Everyday
'The holiday plans really excite the kids.'
Technical
'A photon of sufficient energy can excite an electron to a higher orbital.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The football match really excited the crowd.
- The idea doesn't excite me much, to be honest.
American English
- The trailer excited a lot of interest in the movie.
- She was excited to start her new job.
adverb
British English
- He waved excitedly as the train approached.
American English
- She talked excitedly about her promotion.
adjective
British English
- The excited children could hardly sleep.
- An excited state of matter.
American English
- He got excited about the game.
- The excited electron releases energy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The present excited the little boy.
- We are excited about our holiday.
- The teacher's story excited the students' curiosity.
- They were excited to hear the news.
- The possibility of working abroad excites her more than a higher salary.
- His speech failed to excite the audience, who remained largely indifferent.
- The research aims to excite a measurable photoelectric response in the new material.
- Politicians often use rhetoric designed to excite the base rather than persuade the undecided.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of EXIT with a 'C' in the middle: you're so EXCITed to leave (EXIT) that you rush through the C (see) in the centre.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCITEMENT IS A PHYSICAL AGITATION / EXCITEMENT IS HEAT (e.g., 'He was all fired up', 'She's buzzing with excitement').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from Russian 'возбуждать', which has a primary sexual connotation in modern English. English 'excite' is broader and more neutral.
- Do not confuse with 'exciting' (интересный, захватывающий) and 'excited' (взволнованный, радостный). The Russian adjective 'экзальтированный' is a false friend; it means 'overexcited' or 'hysterical'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'excite' as an adjective (*'I am excite for the trip.' -> Correct: 'excited').
- Using the noun 'excitement' as a verb (*'That excitements me.' -> Correct: 'That excites me.').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'excite' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Excite' is a verb meaning to cause the feeling. 'Excited' is an adjective describing the person or thing experiencing the feeling (e.g., The game excites him. He is excited by the game).
Mostly, but not always. In everyday contexts, it is positive (e.g., excite joy, interest). In technical contexts, it is neutral (e.g., excite a nerve, excite an atom). In some formal contexts, it can be negative (e.g., excite jealousy, excite unrest).
Yes, commonly. It is used to describe generating interest or enthusiasm among customers, investors, or employees (e.g., 'The new strategy failed to excite the shareholders').
The most common mistake is using 'excite' as an adjective. Learners often say '*I am excite' instead of the correct 'I am excited'.