If someone is in a state of agitation, they are very worried or upset, and show this in their behaviour, movements, or voice.
Danny returned to Father's house in a state of intense agitation.
She forced herself to breathe calmly and not show her agitation.
2. See also agitate
More Synonyms of agitation
agitation in British English
(ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃən)
noun
1.
a state of excitement, disturbance, or worry
2.
the act of moving something vigorously; the shaking or stirring of something
3.
the act of attempting to stir up public opinion for or against something
Derived forms
agitational (ˌagiˈtational)
adjective
agitation in American English
(ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən)
noun
1.
an agitating or being agitated; violent motion or stirring
2.
emotional disturbance or excitement
3.
discussion meant to stir up people and produce changes
Derived forms
agitational (agiˈtational)
adjective
Word origin
Fr < L
agitation in Chemical Engineering
(ædʒɪteɪʃən)
noun
(Chemical Engineering: General)
Agitation is the movement of one or more components of a mixture to improve contact.
Vigorous agitation of liquids, particularly water, will cause a reduction in the agglomeration of theliquid and change its normal properties.
Solid particles in liquids generally tend to settle to the bottom of a vessel, andto maintain a suspension, some form of agitation is normally needed.
Agitation is the movement of one or more components of a mixture to improve contact.
Examples of 'agitation' in a sentence
agitation
The latter can counteract anxiety and agitation, and has been shown to rise after yoga and meditation.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Why are important strands of popular political and social agitation omitted?
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Nor is there much agitation for political liberalisation to accompany the new economic freedoms.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
No evidence of political agitation could be found against him.
Brian Thompson DEVASTATING EDEN: The Search for Utopia in America (2004)
This in turn will increase his agitation, reinforce the behaviour and so make things worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Paraguay took heart from a second-half display that caused England agitation.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That satisfied the public 's agitation, but there was no guarantee that another panic might not erupt in the future.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
Does he accept that the public agitation, and the inflammatory comments on websites and elsewhere, could have dangerous implications?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There was great agitation for the enlargement of the franchise by the working class, and it seemed most unlikely that this class voice could be simply ignored.
Henry, John F The Making of Neoclassical Economics (1990)
And this one-sided tale of woe fuels a lopsided view of youth - as well as public agitation for still more draconian laws and punishments.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
agitation
British English: agitation NOUN
If someone is in a state of agitation, they are very worried or upset, and show this in their behaviour, movements, or voice.
He returned to his father's house in a state of intense agitation.
American English: agitation
Brazilian Portuguese: agitação
Chinese: 焦虑不安
European Spanish: agitación
French: agitation
German: Aufregung
Italian: agitazione
Japanese: 興奮
Korean: 불안
European Portuguese: agitação
Latin American Spanish: agitación
1 (noun)
Seventy students were injured in the agitation.
Synonyms
struggle
I broke my wrist in the struggle.
fight
They used to be allies in the fight against the old Communist regime.
battle
The battle lasted several years.
conflict
The National Security Council has met to discuss ways of preventing a military conflict.
clash
There are reports of clashes between militants and the security forces in the city.
contest
a bitter contest over who should control the state's future
encounter
They were arrested after a chance encounter with security forces near the border.
combat
Over 16 million men died in combat during the war.
hostilities
strife
The boardroom strife at the company is far from over.
skirmish
Border skirmishes are common.
tussle
The referee booked him for a tussle with the goalie.
2 (noun)
Temperature is a measure of agitation of molecules.
Synonyms
turbulence
a region often beset by religious turbulence
rocking
shake
blurring of photos caused by camera shake
shaking
stirring
stir
His film has caused a stir in America.
tossing
disturbance
upheaval
churning
convulsion
It was a decade that saw many great social, economic and political convulsions.
3 (noun)
He was in a state of emotional agitation.
Synonyms
turmoil
a year of political turmoil
worry
trouble
You've caused a lot of trouble.
upset
a source of continuity in times of worry and upset
alarm
confusion
The rebel leader seems to have escaped in the confusion.
excitement
The audience was in a state of great excitement.
disturbance
During the disturbance, three men were hurt.
distraction
He drove his staff to the verge of distraction.
upheaval
a prolonged period of political upheaval
stimulation
flurry
There was a flurry of excitement.
outcry
clamour
Kathryn's quiet voice stilled the clamour.
arousal
Thinking angry thoughts can provoke strong physiological arousal.
ferment
The country is in a state of political ferment.
disquiet
commotion
He heard a terrible commotion outside.
fluster
I was in such a fluster that I dropped the lot.
lather (informal)
incitement
tumult
the recent tumult in global financial markets
discomposure
tizzy, tizz or tiz-woz (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arousal
Thinking angry thoughts can provoke strong physiological arousal.