Agitated
/ˈædʒɪteɪtɪd/
adjectiveB2past participle (used as adjective)
Definition
Agitated describes a person or animal who is feeling uneasy, nervous, or upset. It often shows in their behavior, like moving quickly, speaking loudly, or looking worried. This word is used when someone is emotionally disturbed or restless.
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⚡ See It in Action
Emotionally disturbed or nervous
- •She was agitated before the big interview and couldn't stop pacing.
- •The child became agitated when he lost his favorite toy.
- •He sounded agitated on the phone, as if something was wrong.
Physically restless or moving quickly because of strong feelings
- •The agitated crowd shouted loudly during the protest.
- •The agitated bird flew around the room in panic.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "agitated" like "worried" (A1 word), but stronger and with more movement or noise
- ✓Picture a small dog barking and moving around quickly because it feels nervous or excited
- ✓It's the feeling when you can't sit still because something is bothering you or making you anxious
- ✓Sounds like "AGI-tated" → imagine a kettle boiling and shaking because the water is moving fast inside
- ✓Think of a time when you felt nervous before a test and your hands shook or your heart beat fast
- ✓NOT like "calm" (quiet and peaceful), agitated means restless and uneasy
- ✓NOT like "angry" (strong anger), agitated can be nervous or upset without full anger
- ✓NOT like "tired" (needing rest), agitated means active and disturbed, not relaxed
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Nervous: feeling worried or anxious (Use when the focus is on worry without much physical movement)
- •Restless: unable to stay still (Use when the main idea is physical movement or inability to relax)
- •Disturbed: emotionally upset (Use when feelings are strong and cause trouble inside)
- •Uneasy: feeling not comfortable or safe (Use when there is worry but less strong than agitated)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix: "ag-" (a form of "ad-" meaning to or toward)
- •Root: "itate" from Latin "agitare," meaning to move quickly or shake
- •Suffix: "-ed" to form past participle/adjective showing a state or condition
- •Etymology: From Latin "agitare," meaning to shake, move, or disturb
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe physical movement or stirring; later used for emotional disturbance or nervousness
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe people or animals who are nervous, upset, or restless
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do you know when someone is agitated just by looking at their body language or voice?
•Can feeling agitated ever be helpful? When might it help you act faster or solve a problem?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She became agitated because she ___ the important meeting was starting soon.
2.When people are agitated, they often ___ or speak in a loud voice.
3.Agitated is different from calm because calm means ___ and quiet.
4.The teacher tried to calm the agitated students who were ___ loudly in the hallway.
5.He felt agitated after hearing bad news, showing signs of ___ and worry.
6.Agitated animals often ___ around quickly instead of resting.
7.You might feel agitated before a test because you are ___ about your results.