All Words
Friday, January 30, 2026
Word of the Day

palpitate

verb

To beat rapidly and strongly; to tremble or shake with fear or excitement; to flutter or throb.

Advanced - Used in formal or literary contexts

Etymology

From Latin palpitare meaning "to throb, flutter," frequentative of palpare (to touch gently, stroke), suggesting repeated gentle movement.

Examples in Use

  • 1.

    "Her heart palpitated with excitement as she opened the acceptance letter."

  • 2.

    "The hummingbird's wings palpitated so fast they were nearly invisible."

  • 3.

    "He felt his pulse palpitate after climbing the stairs."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

throbflutterpoundbeatquiver

Related Words

trembleshakepulsevibrate

Fun Fact

Heart palpitations can be triggered by caffeine, stress, or medical conditions. A hummingbird's heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute during flight - the fastest of any animal relative to body size.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 9 letters (P, A, L, P, I, T, A, T, E)

Scrabble Value: 13 points

Tip: Words ending in "TE" are often good scoring opportunities.

Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!

Ready to find words like "palpitate" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!