Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To make more lively, vigorous, or energetic: To impart vitality or animation to something or someone, often resulting in increased activity or strength.
   • To give life to; to endow with life or vitality: To infuse with the principle of life or to make something functional and active.

Usage and Examples

• To make more lively or vigorous:
  • The inspiring speech served to vitalise the weary team before the final project push.
  • A brisk walk in the morning can vitalise you for the entire day.
• To give life to:
  • The scientist's groundbreaking work aimed to vitalise the dormant cells.
  • The new policy was designed to vitalise the stagnant local economy.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• In a figurative or abstract sense: Often used to describe energizing non-physical entities like organizations, discussions, or artistic works.
  • The director sought to vitalise the classic play with a modern setting.
• In scientific or technical contexts: Can refer to imparting biological vitality or activating a process.
  • The researchers studied factors that vitalise seed germination.

Variants and Related Words

• Vitalize: The primary spelling, especially in American English. It is synonymous and interchangeable with 'vitalise'.
• Vitalisation (Noun): The act or process of making something vital.
  • The vitalisation of the community center became her main goal.
• Revitalise/Revitalize: To give new life or vitality to; to re-energize. (Note: This is a distinct compound word using the prefix 're-'.)
• Devitalise/Devitalize: To deprive of vitality or life. (The opposite action.)

Synonyms

• Energize: To give energy or enthusiasm to.
• Invigorate: To fill with life and energy.
• Animate: To give life or motion to.
• Stimulate: To encourage or incite activity.
• Rejuvenate: To make someone or something look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively.

Antonyms

• Enervate: To cause to feel drained of energy or vitality.
• Debilitate: To make weak or infirm.
• Devitalize: To deprive of strength or vitality.
• Weaken: To reduce the strength or intensity of.

Notes on Usage

• Spelling: 'Vitalise' is the standard spelling in British English, while 'vitalize' is more common in American English. Both are correct.
• Formality: The word is moderately formal and is commonly found in written English, professional contexts, and descriptive prose.
• Object: Typically takes a direct object (a person, group, system, or thing that receives the vitality).

Verb

1. make more lively or vigorous
   • The treatment at the spa vitalized the old man
2. give life to
   • The eggs are vitalized