excitable

adjective

ex·​cit·​able ik-ˈsī-tə-bəl 

1

: capable of being readily roused into action or a state of excitement or irritability

2

: capable of being activated by and reacting to stimuli

excitable cells

excitability

ik-ˌsī-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

excitableness

ik-ˈsī-tə-bəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• fiddle-footed
• flighty
• fluttery
• high-strung
• hyper
• hyperactive
• hyperexcitable
• hyperkinetic
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• skittery
• skittish
• spasmodic
• spooky

Examples of excitable in a Sentence

an excitable child who needs a stable home life

Recent Examples on the Web

There are no gilded gates here, but there is one heck of a party, complete with serenading busts, ballroom dancers, excitable opera singers, drunken buffoonery and portraits locked in an endless duel. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Our excitable friends would indeed be correct that a theoretical 25 percent tariff across the board would have an adverse effect on business aviation. —Brian Foley, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

The movie, off a screenplay by Ash, follows Nate (Ash), an excitable millennial novelist, who is forced to leave his fabulous city life behind and move in with his grandparents after a bad breakup. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025

Jeon Seok-ho is consistently amusing as Woo-seok, an excitable small-time criminal who joins Jun-ho in the search for the island. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing excitable

• hyper-excitable

Kids Definition

excitable

adjective

ex·​cit·​able ik-ˈsīt-ə-bəl 

1

: easily excited

2

: capable of being excited

excitability

-ˌsīt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

excitable

adjective

ex·​cit·​able ik-ˈsīt-ə-bəl 

of living tissue or an organism

: capable of being activated by and reacting to stimuli : exhibiting irritability

the biochemistry of excitable membranes

—Science

excitability

-ˌsīt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural excitabilities