# excite

/ɪkˈsaɪt/ (US) · /ɛksˈaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/excite
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to make someone feel enthusiastic

verb · CEFR B1

to make someone feel very happy, interested, or eager.

For teachers: to arouse strong feelings of enthusiasm, anticipation, or pleasure in a person.

- The news about the holiday trip really excited the children.
- The prospect of working on a high-profile international project excited the young architect, who had long sought such an opportunity.

### 2. to cause a reaction or feeling

verb · CEFR B2

to cause a particular feeling or reaction in people.

For teachers: to elicit or provoke a specific response, interest, or emotion.

- The new book excited a lot of interest among local historians.
- The discovery of the ancient ruins excited considerable debate among archaeologists regarding the true age of the settlement.

### 3. physics/particles

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to give energy to a particle, like an electron, so it moves to a higher level.

For teachers: to cause an atom or molecule to transition to a higher energy state, typically by the absorption of a photon.

- The laser is used to excite the atoms in the gas chamber.
- When the incoming radiation excites the electrons, they jump to a higher orbital before eventually releasing energy as light.

### 4. electromagnetism

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to pass an electric current through a coil to create a magnetic field.

For teachers: to supply an electric current to the windings of an electromagnet or generator to produce a magnetic flux.

- The technician had to excite the magnetic coils before the machine could start.
- The generator's field coils must be excited by a direct current to establish the magnetic field necessary for power production.

## Examples

- The news of the holiday will excite the children.
- The new product launch failed to excite investors, leading to a slight drop in the company's stock price.
- The researchers used a high-powered laser to excite the electrons within the sample, allowing them to observe the resulting light emissions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.