agitation
The crowd's agitation grew as the speaker's speech dragged on.
The audience became increasingly anxious and restless during the long speech.
A state of anxiety, nervousness, or disturbance, often accompanied by physical movement or restlessness.
The political rally ended in agitation after protesters clashed with police.
The political event turned chaotic when protesters and police engaged in conflict.
She felt a wave of agitation before her job interview.
She experienced intense nervousness and restlessness before her interview.
Commonly used in psychological and social contexts to describe emotional turmoil.
The act of stirring or disturbing something, especially a liquid or mixture.
Agitation is required to dissolve the powder in the solution.
The solution must be stirred continuously to dissolve the powder.
In chemistry, agitation refers to the process of mixing or stirring to ensure uniformity.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'agitation' in chemistry
While 'agitation' can mean stirring a liquid in technical contexts, its primary meaning in everyday use refers to emotional disturbance. Context usually clarifies the intended meaning.
Gold Rule
Use 'agitation' for emotional states
Reserve 'agitation' for describing feelings of anxiety, restlessness, or disturbance. For physical stirring, use 'stirring' or 'mixing'.
Word Origin
From Latin *agitatio(n-)*, meaning 'a driving, moving,' derived from *agitare* ('to drive, stir up'), frequentative of *agere* ('to do, act'). The word entered English in the 15th century with meanings related to physical stirring before developing its emotional connotations.
Usage Notes
Agitation is typically used to describe both emotional states (e.g., anxiety) and physical processes (e.g., stirring a liquid). In social contexts, it often implies organized unrest or protest.