pulsate

verb

pul·​sate ˈpəl-ˌsāt How to pronounce pulsate (audio)
 also  ˌpəl-ˈsāt
pulsated; pulsating

intransitive verb

1
: to throb or move rhythmically : vibrate
2
: to exhibit a pulse or pulsation : beat

Examples of pulsate in a Sentence

The lights pulsated with the music. People danced to the pulsating sounds of hip-hop. Virtually every scene of the movie pulsates with suspense.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The bot is then hooked up to a device known as a pneumatic ring oscillator, which delivers a pulsating 2.25-bar (32.6-psi) air current into channels within the robot's body. Ben Coxworth may 28, New Atlas, 28 May 2025 Richter’s monumental canvas elevates the fast tempos and raw, unpolished sound of punk music into complex compositions that pulsate with energy and emotion. Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025 While Greektown may look different from its early days—today, lively casinos, pulsating neon signs, and thriving nightlife fill the area—the Greek roots still exist. AFAR Media, 30 Apr. 2025 The joyride continued to the end where Malden Catholic emerged with the school’s first and only state baseball title with a pulsating 2-0 win over Marlboro. Danny Ventura, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pulsate

Word History

Etymology

in part borrowed from Latin pulsātus, past participle of pulsāre "to strike with repeated blows, beat, (in passive) beat wildly (of the heart)," frequentative or repetitive derivative of pellere "to beat against, push, strike"; in part from pulse entry 1 + -ate entry 4 — more at pulse entry 1

First Known Use

1744, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pulsate was in 1744

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Cite this Entry

“Pulsate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pulsate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

pulsate

verb
pul·​sate ˈpəl-ˌsāt How to pronounce pulsate (audio)
pulsated; pulsating
1
: to throb or move rhythmically
2
: to exhibit a pulse or pulsation : beat
a heart pulsating

Medical Definition

pulsate

intransitive verb
pul·​sate
ˈpəl-ˌsāt also ˌpəl-ˈ
pulsated; pulsating
: to exhibit a pulse or pulsation
a pulsating artery

More from Merriam-Webster on pulsate

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