1. To cause to move with violence or sudden force.
2. To upset; disturb: was agitated by the alarming news.
3. To arouse interest in (a cause, for example) by use of the written or spoken word; debate.
v.intr.
To stir up public interest in a cause: agitate for a tax reduction.
[Latin agitre, agitt-, frequentative of agere, to drive, do; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]
agi·tated·ly(-ttd-l) adv.
agi·tative adj.
Synonyms: agitate, churn, convulse, rock2, shake These verbs mean to cause to move to and fro violently: land agitated by tremors; a storm churning the waves; buildings and streets convulsed by an explosion; a hurricane rocking trees and houses; an earthquake that shook the ground.