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

Bawumia has criss-crossed the country in a blue-coloured bus, with his image emblazoned on it alongside his campaign slogan: "It is possible" - a reference to the fact that he can win, and stimulate economic growth.

From BBC

These balloons stimulate a sense of fullness in the stomach, and studies have shown that they work well, but the benefits are often temporary.

From Science Daily

The second half examines the use of mouse models to determine if controlled doses, or pulses, of MYC within skeletal muscles would be enough to stimulate muscle growth independent of actual exercise.

From Science Daily

It is also a potent oncogene, meaning the very growth it promotes in skeletal muscle could stimulate cellular proliferation if overexpressed in organs like the liver, resulting in tumors.

From Science Daily

"We hope our study will stimulate future research on how microbes in and on our body, other than those in our gastrointestinal tract that are already often studied, are associated with mental health in mothers and even people who are not mothers."

From Science Daily

Related Words

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