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😠 To upset ✊ To campaign 🌀 To shake or stir
to agitate

to agitate

9 4.1
To move or shake something to mix it
  • verb
  • /ˈædʒɪˌteɪt/
translation icon : agitar
  • Hold it over the area for a few seconds, agitate it just a little bit, and then you will find you're getting a lot of product off there.
  • agitated water

Hold it over the area for a few seconds, agitate it just a little bit, and then you will find you're getting a lot of product off there.

Examples

  • To check liquids like soup or gravy, simply stir or agitate the contents before taking the measurement.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Before applying the paint, make sure to agitate the can to blend the colors.

  • I'm going to agitate the molecules now.

    Scoop (2006)

  • I'm just going to agitate some of your molecules and split them apart.

    Scoop (2006)

  • So in this case, all I had to do was agitate and roll the solvent.

  • The heavier elements sink to the bottom as you agitate the concentrate.

    Stay Out Stay Alive (2019)

  • As the water is agitated, the float rises.

    Academic text (2013)

  • By churning this milk, The milk is being agitated and the fat molecules clump together.

  • To mix the solution evenly, you need to agitate it thoroughly.

  • The scientist instructed us to agitate the mixture for several minutes.

Synonyms

to shake
vsto agitate
916 1.0

To move quickly from side to side or up and down

is about moving by mixing as well as by forceful motion
to disturb
vsto agitate
97 2.1

Move something and make it untidy or broken

refers only to moving by shaking or mixing without implying damage
to stir
vsto agitate
75 1.0

To move slightly after being still

involves stronger movement by shaking or mixing rather than slight motion
to commove
vsto agitate
  • Archaic
9.9

To disturb people or things

is specifically about moving something by shaking or mixing
to jactitate
vsto agitate
  • Archaic
9.9

To move or shake your body suddenly and violently

is about moving by shaking or mixing not only violent tossing

Antonyms

to settle
540 2.8

To become calm and still after movement or excitement

to still
12 4.2

To make quiet or calm

How Mixed

to churn
51 4.8
to shake
916 1.0
to agitate
9 4.1
to mix
416 1.0
to stir
152 1.0
to fold
  • Specialized
78 5.9

Surface Forms

agitate infinitive
agitated past
agitated past participle
agitating present participle
agitates third person singular

Etymology

The word agitate comes from the Latin verb agitare, meaning 'to put into motion'. Think of shaking a bottle: to agitate something is to move or stir it so its parts mix.