stimulate

[ stim-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, stim·u·lat·ed, stim·u·lat·ing.

1. to rouse to action or effort, as by encouragement or pressure; spur on; incite:

   A childhood summer learning program was the first thing to stimulate his interest in mathematics.

   Synonyms: excite, activate, arouse

2. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. to excite (a nerve, gland, etc.) to its functional activity.
3. to invigorate (a person) by a food or beverage containing a stimulant such as coffee or tea.

verb (used without object)

, stim·u·lat·ed, stim·u·lat·ing.

1. to act as a stimulus or stimulant.

stimulate

/ ˈstɪmjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. tr; usually passive to fill (a person) with ideas or enthusiasm

   he was stimulated by the challenge

2. tr physiol to excite (a nerve, organ, etc) with a stimulus
3. to encourage (something) to start or progress further

   a cut in interest rates should help stimulate economic recovery

Derived Forms

• ˌstimuˈlation, noun
• ˈstimulable, adjective
• ˈstimuˌlator, noun
• ˈstimulative, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• stim·u·la·ble adjective
• stim·u·la·bil·i·ty [stim-y, uh, -l, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• stim·u·la·tion [stim-y, uh, -, ley, -sh, uh, n], noun
• stim·u·la·tor stim·u·lat·er noun
• in·ter·stim·u·late verb (used with object) interstimulated interstimulating
• non·stim·u·la·ble adjective
• o·ver·stim·u·late verb overstimulated overstimulating
• pre·stim·u·late verb (used with object) prestimulated prestimulating
• re·stim·u·late verb (used with object) restimulated restimulating
• self-stim·u·lat·ed adjective
• su·per·stim·u·late verb (used with object) superstimulated superstimulating
• un·stim·u·la·ble adjective
• un·stim·u·lat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulate¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin stimulāt(us) “goaded” (past participle of stimulāre “to goad, incite,” from stimulus stimulus ( def ) ); -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulate¹

C16: from Latin stimulāre; see stimulant

Synonym Study

See animate.

Example Sentences

This uncomfortable three-way coalition was pulled apart by two very different visions of how to stimulate Germany’s flagging economy.

From BBC

Federal law allows presidents to impose them without Congress' approval, and former President Donald Trump has said he would increase rates if elected in order to stimulate American manufacturing.

From Salon

Trump, looking to court union members and working-class voters, has suggested that fully deductible interest on auto loans would stimulate the industry.

From Salon

They rose, then plummeted again in 2021, post-pandemic, to help stimulate borrowing.

From Salon

They rose, then plummeted again in 2021 to help stimulate borrowing.

From Salon

Related Words

• arouse
• encourage
• inspire
• prompt
• quicken
• spark
• spur
• trigger
• vitalize