What does salivate mean?
Salivate means to produce saliva, or to drool or water at the mouth, usually in response to hunger, excitement, or the sight or smell of food. It can also be used figuratively for feeling eager or intensely desirous: a person may salivate over a new opportunity or at the prospect of a generous reward. The literal sense is neutral and can appear in medical or biological writing, while the figurative sense is generally informal and sometimes suggests impatience, greed, or intense enthusiasm. The word is related to Latin saliva, meaning “spittle” or “saliva,” and to forms such as salivary and salivation. Because salivate vividly combines a physical reaction with figurative desire, it is especially effective in descriptions of anticipation, temptation, and eagerness.
verbTo produce saliva, especially in response to hunger, anticipation, or excitement. Figuratively, to feel eager or intensely desirous for something.
- To produce saliva, especially in response to hunger, excitement, or the sight or smell of food.
- To feel eager or intensely desirous for something.
"The children began to salivate as soon as they smelled the freshly baked bread."
"His mouth began to salivate at the thought of the elaborate dessert."
"She salivated for the opportunity to work with the renowned architect."
From the Latin salivare, meaning “to produce saliva,” salivate can describe anything that makes the mouth water—and, figuratively, anything that sparks eager desire.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does salivate come from?
Salivate comes from Latin salivare, “to produce saliva,” from saliva, meaning “spittle” or “saliva.” English borrowed the verb during the early modern period, developing its modern figurative sense of eager desire alongside its original bodily meaning. The root is preserved in related English words such as saliva, salivary, and salivation, as well as in cognates in other Romance languages.
Related word forms
How salivate is actually used
The literal use is neutral and is common in medical, biological, and descriptive contexts. The figurative use is informal and often carries a slightly humorous or critical tone, particularly when someone eagerly desires a scarce or desirable thing.