Agitation means a state of nervous excitement, disturbance, or upset. When you're agitated, you feel restless and anxious, unable to settle down or think clearly. You might pace around your room before a big presentation, fidget constantly during a long car ride, or feel your heart racing while waiting for important news.

The word describes both an inner feeling and the outward signs that show it. An agitated person might speak quickly, move jerkily, or seem unable to sit still. Your dog might show agitation by whining and circling when thunder rumbles outside. A crowd can become agitated when people feel threatened or confused, with everyone talking at once and moving unpredictably.

Agitation can also mean the act of stirring something up, literally or figuratively. A washing machine works through agitation, swirling clothes around to clean them. Political activists might engage in agitation when they work to stir up public support for a cause, trying to move people from calm acceptance to active concern.

The related verb is agitate: The bad news agitated everyone in the waiting room. An agitator is someone who deliberately stirs up strong feelings, often to push for social or political change.