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Glite Dictionary
🤩 To feel eager 🤤 To produce saliva
to salivate

to salivate

11 6.1
To feel very eager or excited about something
  • verb
  • /ˈsælɪˌveɪt/
  • Informal
translation icon : desear
  • The Democratic Party is salivating over this group in a very dysfunctional way.
  • salivated at the prospect
  • salivate at the thought
  • lawyers salivating

He'll throw him some crumbs to keep him salivating, but he hasn't really ain't got to win another election.

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Examples

  • The fans were salivating over the announcement of their favorite band's concert tour.

  • The children were salivating at the sight of the delicious cake in the bakery window.

  • There have to be a lot of other guys salivating for the chance.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Justin didn't know, but the mere thought was plenty to make him salivate.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • You have to understand, I've had people salivating to buy this house, but I'm very particular, and I just like you two.

    The Intruder (2019)

  • But you know, what's great is that they they were salivating for us to come up with comedy ideas where they could pull off something really amazing.

  • At MasterFit University, I noticed Lou salivating over a number of tools of the boot fitting trade.

    Blog text (4)

  • At this point, I'm just salivating at the possibility of gorgeous Cerebus reprints.

    Blog text (9)

  • The Superman comic books were immensely popular, and Paramount salivated over the idea of cashing in on the superhero phenomenon.

    Blog text (30)

  • After hearing about the new video game release, gamers started salivating in anticipation.

Synonyms

to drool
vsto salivate
  • Informal
46 6.3

To want something very much and show it on your face

expresses eager excitement without stressing exaggeration
to slobber
vsto salivate
  • Informal
22 4.8

To let saliva run from the mouth in a messy way or to show strong desire

is a general eager feeling without messy physical action
to drool over
vsto salivate
  • Informal
14 6.8

To look at someone or something while wanting to have it very much

is general eager feeling, not only looking or admiring
to couldn't help but drool
vsto salivate
  • Informal
7.4

Want food so much that you cannot stop your mouth from filling with saliva

is general eager feeling without implying loss of control
to point-and-drool
vsto salivate
  • Slang
9.9

Look at something you want and show strong desire openly

is broader eager interest, not necessarily public or exaggerated

How Eager

to crave
103 3.8
to yearn
92 4.9
to salivate
  • Informal
11 6.1
to desire
446 1.6
want
27 1.0

Surface Forms

salivate infinitive
salivated past
salivated past participle
salivating present participle
salivates third person singular

Morphology

salivate = saliva (transparent) = saliva + ate

The informal sense is an extension of the core meaning 'produce saliva' to strong eagerness, still derivable from the base formation.

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the informal use of salivate ('feel eager') is to think of your mouth 'watering' when you really want something. It comes from the same Latin saliva 'spit', so to 'salivate' over something is to show strong want, like the body getting ready to eat.