to move one's hand or an implement continuously or repeatedly through (a liquid or other substance) in order to cool, mix, agitate, dissolve, etc., any or all of the component parts.
to stir one's coffee with a spoon.
to set in tremulous, fluttering, or irregular motion.
A soft breeze stirred the leaves.
to affect strongly; excite.
to stir pity;
to stir one's heart.
to incite, instigate, or provoke (usually followed byup ).
to stir up a people to rebellion.
to move briskly; bestir.
to stir oneself.
to move, especially in a slight way.
He would not stir a finger to help them.
to rouse from inactivity, quiet, contentment, indifference, etc. (usually followed byup ).
to stir up his potential.
to bring up for notice or discussion.
Older Use. to disturb; trouble.
A slow wave of remembrance stirred her peace.
to move, especially slightly or lightly.
Not a leaf stirred.
to move around, especially briskly; be active.
Everyone in the house was stirring.
to become active, as from some rousing or quickening impulse.
to be emotionally moved or strongly affected.
to be in circulation, current, or afoot.
Is there any news stirring?
the act of stirring or moving.
the sound made by stirring or moving slightly.
a state or occasion of general excitement; commotion.
The news created a stir.
a mental impulse, sensation, or feeling.
a stir of hope.
a jog, poke, or thrust.
He gave the refuse a stir with his foot.
movement, especially brisk and busy movement.
There was too much clamor and stir for her.
to move an implement such as a spoon around in (a liquid) so as to mix up the constituents
she stirred the porridge
to change or cause to change position; disturb or be disturbed
he stirred in his sleep
to venture or depart (from one's usual or preferred place)
he won't stir from the fireside
(intr) to be active after a rest; be up and about
(tr) to excite or stimulate, esp emotionally
to move (oneself) briskly or vigorously; exert (oneself)
(tr) to rouse or awaken
to stir someone from sleep
to stir memories
informal to cause or incite others to cause (trouble, arguments, etc)
informal to move or become active
the act or an instance of stirring or the state of being stirred
a strong reaction, esp of excitement
his publication caused a stir
a slight movement
informal a noisy party
See ado.
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb stiren, Old English styrian; cognate with German stören “to disturb, interrupt”; akin to Old Norse styrr “disturbance, brawl”; see storm
First rcorded in 1830–35; argot word of obscure origin; perhaps from Romani sturiben “prison,” staripen “imprison”; compare earlier argot start in same sense
To stir is to mix something up. You can literally stir cake batter with a spoon, or figuratively stir someone's emotions by writing them a heartfelt letter. You can stir muffin batter with a wooden spoon, and stir in a cup of blueberries. When people stir, they start to move after being still or asleep: "It was only five o'clock, but he could hear the kids start to stir." And when something stirs you, it brings up some emotion: "That music always stirs up my sad memories." Stir shares a root with the Old Norse styrr, "tumult or disturbance."
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The occasion for all this abuse is “Musk,” Gibney’s damning, nearly four-hour documentary about the trillionaire, which hits theaters in Los Angeles and New York Friday after causing a stir on the festival circuit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
The sudden influx of Bogong moths along Australia's east coast has caused a stir in cities like Sydney and Canberra, with people filming them infiltrating their homes and cars.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had where someone says, “Even mentioning this can stir up fear and doubt.”
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
They are certainly active in Japan and the United Kingdom, and they are starting to stir in the U.S., as well.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
He tossed his drakon meat into a hanging pot that seemed to be made from an old monster skull, then picked up a ladle and began to stir.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Cocktail writer Kara Newman featured Paper Plane in her recent book “Shake. Stir. Sip.” and calls it one of her favorites.
From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2017
There, it stirs the surrounding hot gas, which gives off X-rays.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
Yes, “Spa Weekend” is a plate of reheated “Wedding Crashers” nachos, because no one stirs up cheerful chaos like the spirited Fisher.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Being put on a PIP by someone who used to be your equal probably stirs up feelings of inadequacy.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
A pair of heartwarming World Cup reflections: Soccer stirs up all sorts of emotions for fans.
From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2026
Ama stirs in my arms but falls still once more.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
The Bay Area librarian-turned-social media star stirred concern online this summer after a series of posts in which he discussed his declining mental health.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
Then Ryan Christie scored and it stirred, only to fall into a slumber again.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
"It's really taken off like wildfire," he said as a batch of powder was slowly stirred into gelato, turning it a bright purple.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
My 15-year-old son’s borrowed quip stirred up memories of my father.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Benji stirred his ice cream and took a small bite.
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
But there were also surprising increases in the prices of goods like apparel, stirring concern that high energy prices were starting to drive up inflation elsewhere by increasing transportation costs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
These protest-laden times couldn’t be more receptive to the stirring “Everybody to Kenmure Street,” which speaks to a moment when the machinery of institutional cruelty was ground to a halt by righteous neighborliness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
By heating, stirring, and disrupting gas throughout the CGM, black hole jets can make it harder for that material to cool and fall back toward the galaxy.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026
Already the company's claim is stirring some controversy.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
As they drew near the cottage, Ivy began to feel dread stirring in her belly.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
