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

So does that of an excitable young engineer (Jonas Strand Gravli) who pesters him with seemingly fanciful technological dreams. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025

There’s lots of snarky, adult humor and many high-stakes moments that may be too excitable for younger audiences. —Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 20 Dec. 2024

Alain Delon plays his excitable, passionate nephew, and the luminous Claudia Cardinale the daughter of a local bureaucrat whose romance with Delon becomes the vessel by which the Prince’s family will maintain its power in the future. —Kevin Lincoln, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025

As an actor, Branagh has a voice that’s high, excitable, and light, and his physicality possesses a tomcat sneakiness. —Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing excitable

• hyper-excitable

Rhymes for excitable

• copyrightable

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