Excite

Excite is a verb with several related meanings. It most commonly means to arouse strong feelings or enthusiasm in someone, to stimulate interest or action, or to cause something to begin or intensify.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin excitare "to stir up, awaken," via Old French exciter. The core sense is to put into motion or increase energy, either emotionally or physically.

In science, to excite describes adding energy to a system. In physics and chemistry, an excited state is a higher-energy arrangement of electrons; when such a state relaxes, energy is released as light or heat. In biology and neuroscience, excitation refers to the initiation of activity in neurons or muscles, typically via electrical or chemical signals. In electronics, excitation can describe the provision of a driving signal that causes a device to respond. The concept underpins techniques such as spectroscopy, lasers, and signal processing.

In everyday language, excite often implies positive arousal or anticipation, as in exciting news or an exciting event, though it can also convey agitation or alarm depending on context. The noun form is excitement.

See also: excitation, excitability, excitatory. These terms are used across scientific disciplines to describe the responsiveness of systems to energy input and the mechanisms by which activity is initiated or propagated.