agitatedly
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈædʒɪtˌeɪtɪdli/
US
- /ˈæd͡ʒɪtˌeɪtɪdli/adverb
Description
- restlessly
- nervously
- uneasily
Imagine a hummingbird trapped inside a room—darting back and forth, wings blurring with frantic energy. That captures the essence of "agitatedly," a word describing how someone acts. It is not just that a person is upset; it is that their distress manifests in restless movement or nervous behavior.
Someone might pace agitatedly while waiting for important news, or stir their tea agitatedly when trying to calm down. The "-ly" ending turns the adjective "agitated" into an adverb, indicating the manner of an action. It is stronger than simply saying someone is "worried"—it shows a visible, physical disturbance. Think of a dog pacing agitatedly before a thunderstorm; you can clearly see the anxiety in its movements!
"Agitatedly" is an adverb that describes how something is done, specifically with restlessness, nervousness, or unease. It paints a picture of someone whose inner emotions are visibly spilling over into their physical behavior.
It implies more than simple annoyance; agitation suggests a deeper level of distress—perhaps worry, frustration, or even fear. You wouldn't simply say someone "walked" into a room during a crisis; you might say they "walked agitatedly," implying hurried steps, twitchy hands, or a tense posture.
Consider this: A politician might address a crowd calmly, but respond to hecklers agitatedly, revealing their underlying frustration. Or a character in a novel might tear through papers agitatedly while searching for a lost document, showing both their desperation and inner turmoil.
The word often appears in descriptive writing where authors want to convey not just what someone is feeling, but how that feeling manifests physically. It is about the outward expression of internal unrest. While "angrily" or "sadly" describe specific emotions, "agitatedly" focuses on the restless, disturbed manner in which an action is carried out.
So, if you want to show a character's inner turmoil through their actions—pacing, fidgeting, speaking quickly and unevenly—then "agitatedly" is your word. It is about more than just feeling upset; it is about showing that unrest through movement.
Examples
- 1
Bad news
She spoke agitatedly on the phone after hearing the news.
- 2
Legal questioning
The witness answered the lawyer's questions agitatedly and kept looking at the door.
- 3
Travel delay
When the flight was delayed again, passengers started talking agitatedly among themselves.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- agitatedlyadverb