# agitate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈæ.d͡ʒɪ.teɪt/ · frequency rank #44,602

## Definitions
1. To disturb or excite; to perturb or stir up (a person).
2. To cause to move with a violent, irregular action; to shake.
3. To participate in political agitation (sense 3).
4. To set in motion; to actuate.
5. To discuss or debate.
6. To mull over, or think deeply about; to consider, to devise.

## Etymology
From Middle English agitat(e) (“set in motion”), borrowed from Latin agitātus, perfect passive participle of agitō (“to put in motion”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), frequentative of agō (“to drive, move, push”), see -tō. Cognate with French agiter. See also act and agent.

## Easily confused with
- **animate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/agitate-vs-animate)
- **agitated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/agitate-vs-agitated)
- **agitator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/agitate-vs-agitator)
- **agate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/agate-vs-agitate)
- **acetate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acetate-vs-agitate)

## Common misspellings (9)
`aggitate`, `agiatte`, `agitaet`, `agitatte`, `agittae`, `agittate`, `agtiate`, `aigtate`, `gaitate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/agitate