pal·pi·tate
ˈpal-pə-ˌtāt 
palpitated; palpitating
: to beat rapidly and strongly : throb
My heart began to palpitate when I was announced as the winner.
pal·pi·ta·tion
ˌpal-pə-ˈtā-shən
: a rapid pulsation
especially
: an abnormally rapid or irregular beating of the heart (such as that caused by panic, arrhythmia, or strenuous physical exercise)
Examples of palpitate in a Sentence
Verb
My heart began to palpitate when I was announced as the winner.
the man's heart began to palpitate, and he feared another attack was coming on
Noun
a palpitation of the blood vessels
Recent Examples on the Web
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
The finale had the impossible task of putting the monstrous show to an unquiet grave, and while some storylines seemed rushed and others completely ignored, even everyone’s least favorite season of GOT is heart palpitating.
—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
31 Jan. 2025
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
The National Institutes of Health warns that energy drinks can cause elevated heart rate, palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety, and dehydration in minors, Paxton's office said.
—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for palpitate
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Verb
But two sweaty and heart-palpitating afternoons at Foley Field spoke a truth about Georgia, bound for the College World Series for the first time since 2008.
—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
The finale had the impossible task of putting the monstrous show to an unquiet grave, and while some storylines seemed rushed and others completely ignored, even everyone’s least favorite season of GOT is heart palpitating.
—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
No doubt the sofa gymnastics gave plenty of soccer fans in the US heart palpitations.
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
The National Institutes of Health warns that energy drinks can cause elevated heart rate, palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety, and dehydration in minors, Paxton's office said.
—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for palpitate
Cite this Entry
“Palpitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palpitate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
palpitate
verb
pal·pi·tate
ˈpal-pə-ˌtāt
palpitated; palpitating
Medical Definition
palpitate
intransitive verb
pal·pi·tate
ˈpal-pə-ˌtāt
palpitated; palpitating
: to beat rapidly, irregularly, or forcibly
—used especially of the heart
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