agitarsi

Agitarsi is an Italian verb used mainly intransitively or reflexively. It describes a transition into a state of agitation or restlessness, or a person’s nervous, animated movement. In the emotional sense, it refers to becoming agitated, anxious, or upset: “Si è agitato per la notizia” (He became agitated by the news). In the physical sense, it denotes moving nervously or frenetically, often referring to body parts or a crowd: “Le mani si agitano sulla tastiera” (The hands move restlessly over the keyboard); “La folla si è agitata al rumore” (The crowd grew agitated).

Origin and usage: the verb derives from Latin agitare, meaning “to drive, to stir up.” In Italian it is used as a reflexive or intransitive verb: si agita, si sono agitati, è agitato. Unlike the transitive agitare, which takes a direct object, agitarsi focuses on the subject’s inner state or self-directed movement. The term can carry a negative connotation when describing emotional states, but it can also describe neutral physical restlessness.

Usage notes: agitarsi is common in standard Italian and versatile for describing both feelings and bodily movement. It is often related to terms like inquietarsi or preoccuparsi for feelings of concern, while movimenti frenetici or agitazione describe observable restlessness without specifying emotional cause.