convulse

UK: /kənˈvʌls/ US: /kənˈvʌls/ ,(kən vuls′)

Inflections of 'convulse' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

convulses

v 3rd person singular

convulsing

v pres p

convulsed

v past

convulsed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•vulse /kənˈvʌls/   v., -vulsed, -vuls•ing. 

1. to shake violently;
   agitate:
   [~ + object] The civil war convulsed the country.
2. to cause to shake violently with emotion:
   [~ + object] convulsed with laughter.
3. Pathology to (cause to) suffer violent, sudden movements of the muscles: [no object]
   He fell to the subway floor and began to convulse.
   [~ + object]
   The cold convulsed the patient's muscles.

con•vul•sive, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•vulse  (kən vuls′), v.t., -vulsed, -vuls•ing. 

1. to shake violently;
   agitate.
2. to cause to shake violently with laughter, anger, pain, etc.
3. Pathology to cause to suffer violent, spasmodic contractions of the muscles.

• Latin convulsus past participle of convellere to shatter, tear loose, equivalent. to con- con- + vul- (variant stem of vellere to pull, tear) + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix
• 1635–45

con•vuls′ed•ly, adv. 
con•vuls′i•ble, adj. 
con•vuls′i•bil′i•ty, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

convulse / kənˈvʌls/ verb

1. (transitive) to shake or agitate violently
2. (transitive) to cause (muscles) to undergo violent spasms or contractions
3. (intransitive) often followed by with: to shake or be overcome (with violent emotion, esp laughter)
4. (transitive) to disrupt the normal running of (a country, etc): riots have convulsed the city

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin convulsus, from convellere to tear up, from vellere to pluck, pull

conˈvulsive adjective

conˈvulsively adverb