excited
/ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/ · ex·cited
verb
- To stir the emotions of; to cause someone to feel heightened emotion. The stirring speech excited the crowd, filling them with hope.
- To arouse or bring out feelings; to stimulate. Favoritism tends to excite jealousy among those who are overlooked.
- To cause an electron or other particle to move to a higher energy state. When a voltage is applied, the neon atoms become excited, later emitting photons as they relax.
adjective
- Having great enthusiasm or eagerness. She was excited about her upcoming trip to Japan.
- In a state of higher energy, especially in physics, describing particles such as electrons. The excited atoms glowed brightly under the ultraviolet lamp.
- Having an erection; erect. The biologist noted that the male frog was excited during the mating season.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? The scientific use of 'excited' to describe electrons dates back to the early 20th century, when physicists discovered that energized atoms emit light as their electrons return to lower energy levels.