stimulate
Americanverb (used with object)
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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.
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Physiology, Medicine/Medical. to excite (a nerve, gland, etc.) to its functional activity.
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to invigorate (a person) by a food or beverage containing a stimulant such as coffee or tea.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr; usually passive) to fill (a person) with ideas or enthusiasm
he was stimulated by the challenge
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(tr) physiol to excite (a nerve, organ, etc) with a stimulus
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to encourage (something) to start or progress further
a cut in interest rates should help stimulate economic recovery
Related Words
See animate.
Other Word Forms
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interstimulateverb (used with object)
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nonstimulableadjective
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overstimulateverb
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prestimulateverb (used with object)
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restimulateverb (used with object)
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self-stimulatedadjective
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stimulabilitynoun
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stimulableadjective
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stimulaternoun
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stimulationnoun
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stimulativeadjective
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stimulatornoun
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superstimulateverb (used with object)
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unstimulableadjective
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unstimulatedadjective
Etymology
Origin of stimulate
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin stimulāt(us) “goaded” (past participle of stimulāre “to goad, incite,” from stimulus stimulus ( def. ) ); see -ate 1
Explanation
If the economy is starting to stall, the president can't just sit there. He has to stimulate—turn it on, bring it to life, perk it up. You can stimulate practically anything: a person, a conversation, a mind, or even the growth of a plant. Stimulate is often used to describe a physical or sexual sensation, but don't get bogged down in that kind of thinking. Often, a government will try to stimulate economic activity by creating a stimulus package. Or, say, for example, that I'm trying to sell my new song CD. In order to stimulate interest, I need to send out a sample song to all my friends. Unless, of course, my songs are no good.
Vocabulary lists containing stimulate
"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe
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"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe
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Game Changer
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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.
His idea: Stimulate a pathway of related nerve cells so they’re better able to sense and pick up the brain’s weak signal.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 20, 2023
The clinic at University College Hospital in Fitzrovia is one of six sites taking part in the Stimulate ICP research project.
From BBC • Nov. 17, 2022
Its Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research was the first program to tackle the uneven geographic distribution of federal research dollars.
From Science Magazine • May 16, 2022
Stimulate them he does: the cells begin to move, then they reproduce into a sort of silicone-like starfish form that moves with a petal-like grace.
From The New Yorker • Mar. 24, 2017
One owes it to the Masses to Stimulate!
From Hermione's Group of Thinkers by Marquis, Don
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
