pulsate
verb
pul·sate ˈpəl-ˌsāt 
also ˌpəl-ˈsāt
pulsated; pulsating
intransitive verb
1
: to throb or move rhythmically : vibrate
2
: to exhibit a pulse or pulsation : beat
Synonyms
- beat
- palpitate
- pit-a-pat
- pitter-patter
- pulse
- throb
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Spirit can pulsate through your body with vigor in the halls of a nightclub or when the organ opens up for the first note on Easter Sunday. 
Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 29 July 2022 The first rung—that is, the one concerning the nearest cosmic objects—relies on geometric parallax to determine the distance to special stars called Cepheid variables, which pulsate in proportion to their intrinsic luminosity. Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2022 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 See More
Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 29 July 2022 The first rung—that is, the one concerning the nearest cosmic objects—relies on geometric parallax to determine the distance to special stars called Cepheid variables, which pulsate in proportion to their intrinsic luminosity. Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2022 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 His version of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel is overstuffed with lurid images, pulp elements that practically pulsate. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2021 See More 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
Kids Definition
pulsate
verb
pul·sate ˈpəl-ˌsāt
pulsated; pulsating
: to have or show strong regular beats
Medical Definition
pulsate
intransitive verb
pul·sate
ˈpəl-ˌsāt also ˌpəl-ˈ
pulsated; pulsating
: to exhibit a pulse or pulsation
a pulsating artery
pulsating 1 of 2
adjective
as in throbbing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- throbbing
- palpitating
- wavering
- wavery
- rocky
- shivering
- unstable
- shivery
- quivering
- shaking
- convulsive
- staggery
- trembling
- wobbling
- shuddering
- unsteady
- wobbly
- atremble
- quaking
- shuddery
- tremulous
- aquiver
- tottering
- quavery
- trembly
- shaky
- tottery
- wabbling
- wabbly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- steady
- controlled
- stable
- firm
- settled
pulsating
2 of 2verb
as in pulsing
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the heart muscle pulsates regularly to pump blood Synonyms & Similar Words
- throbbing
- pulsing
- vibrating
- beating
- palpitating
- oscillating
- fluctuating
- trembling
- pitter-pattering
- quivering
- pit-a-patting