- present participle of stimulate.
stimulating
Americanadjective
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causing interest, inspiration, or incitement to action.
We offer a stimulating work environment with lots of opportunity for growth.
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inciting; acting as a cause.
Rapid technological change is described by some authors as a stimulating factor in the decline of traditional ways of growing food.
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having the property of exciting a nerve, gland, etc., to its functional activity.
This plant tincture has a stimulating effect on the liver, spleen, and digestive system.
adjective
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inspiring new ideas or enthusiasm
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(of a physical activity) making one feel refreshed and energetic
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stimulating
First recorded in 1640–50; stimulate ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Something that is stimulating is exciting or interesting. If your teacher wants the whole class to dress up like pandas because it'll be more fun to learn about the adorable creatures that way, you have a stimulating teacher and a stimulating lesson. Stimulating things may activate the mind, the body, and the emotions in a positive way. They can make you feel more alert, engaged, or enthusiastic. Working to solve a challenging puzzle, participating in a lively discussion, or watching an informative documentary may all be stimulating activities. If seeing a close friend makes you feel happy and excited, it's a stimulating experience.
Vocabulary lists containing stimulating
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The last step is contracting skin and stimulating collagen with BodyTite, a radio-frequency treatment in which a tiny probe is inserted into the arm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
As a result, scientists may be limited to measuring or stimulating one brain layer at a time, even though many brain functions depend on communication among several layers and deeper structures.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026
"By working our jaw muscles we are stimulating blood flow to the brain."
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
The researchers found that stimulating the receptor with AP503 increased bone strength not only in healthy mice, but also in mice with osteoporosis-like bone loss.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
He reminisced about the stimulating conversations that took place in rustic pubs over warm beer.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
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