agitation

/ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌa-jə-ˈtā-shən/ (ame, mw)

agitation — noun

1. a state of nervous unease in which someone feels worried, cannot stay still, and

1.名詞B2
釋義

a state of nervous unease in which someone feels worried, cannot stay still, and shows visible signs of inner tension

例句

Ingrid's agitation grew as the flight kept getting delayed.

possessive + intransitive: [person]'s agitation grew as [clause]

The doctor noticed Joel's agitation and asked if he needed a moment to breathe.

collocation: noticed [person]'s agitation

同義詞
  • anxiety

    broader and can be entirely internal; agitation implies visible restless behaviour

  • restlessness

    focuses on inability to stay still but lacks the worry element

  • unease

    milder and more vague; agitation is sharper and more physically obvious

反義詞
  • calm

    a state of stillness and peace, the direct opposite of agitated tension

  • composure

    steady self-control, especially under pressure

文法句型

agitation + at/about + noun phrase

in + agitation

用法筆記

Uncountable. Often preceded by possessive determiners (her agitation, the patient's agitation). Distinguish from sense 2, which describes collective public action rather than individual emotional state.

常見錯誤

❌He had many agitations before the speech.
✅He felt great agitation before the speech.
💡In this sense, agitation is uncountable; do not use in the plural.

2. organized public action — such as protests, marches, or sustained campaigns — ai

2.名詞C1
釋義

organized public action — such as protests, marches, or sustained campaigns — aimed at bringing about political or social change

例句

Student agitation for climate action filled the streets of Warsaw last spring.

agitation for [cause] — preposition pattern for political demands

The government faced growing agitation from farmers demanding fairer prices.

同義詞
  • protest

    more direct, often a single event; agitation suggests a sustained campaign

  • activism

    broader term covering all forms of political action, not only public demonstrations

  • campaign

    implies a structured, goal-oriented effort; agitation can be more spontaneous

反義詞

文法句型

agitation + for/against + cause

agitation + by + group

用法筆記

Uncountable. Typically followed by 'for' or 'against' plus the cause. The subject is usually a group or movement. More formal than 'protest'.

常見錯誤

❌Her personal agitation against the new tax.
✅She joined the public agitation against the new tax.
💡Sense 2 describes collective action, not an individual's feeling.

3. the action of stirring or shaking something — typically a liquid — back and fort

3.名詞C1
釋義

the action of stirring or shaking something — typically a liquid — back and forth or around, often to mix its contents

例句

Gentle agitation of the test tube helped the powder dissolve in the water.

collocation: gentle agitation + technical context (test tube, dissolve)

The washing machine's agitation cycle loosened the dirt from the heavy blankets.

同義詞
  • stirring

    gentler and more common in everyday cooking; agitation implies a more vigorous or sustained action

  • shaking

    more general and less technical; agitation often implies a continuous back-and-forth motion

  • mixing

    broader term; agitation specifically describes the motion itself rather than the result

反義詞

文法句型

agitation + of + substance

gentle/slow/constant + agitation

用法筆記

Uncountable. Used mainly in technical or scientific contexts (chemistry, manufacturing). For everyday actions, 'stirring' or 'shaking' is more common.

常見錯誤

❌Constant agitation of the crowd worried the police.
✅The growing agitation of the crowd worried the police.
💡When describing people, agitation means emotional unrest (sense 1), not physical shaking (sense 3).