stoke

¹ American  

[stohk] / stoʊk /

verb (used with object)

stoked, stoking

1. to poke, stir up, and feed (a fire).

2. to tend the fire of (a furnace, especially one used with a boiler to generate steam for an engine); supply with fuel.

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verb (used without object)

stoked, stoking

1. to shake up the coals of a fire.

2. to tend a fire or furnace.

stoke ² American  

[stohk] / stoʊk /

noun

Physics.

1. a unit of kinematic viscosity, equal to the viscosity of a fluid in poises divided by the density of the fluid in grams per cubic centimeter.

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stoke British  

/ stəʊk /

verb

1. to feed, stir, and tend (a fire, furnace, etc)

2. (tr) to tend the furnace of; act as a stoker for

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Etymology

Origin of stoke¹

1675–85; < Dutch stoken to feed or stock a fire; stock

Origin of stoke²

After Sir G. Stokes

Explanation

To stoke is to poke a fire and fuel it so that it burns higher. Stoke can also mean "incite" — a principal's impassive silence in the face of requests for more tater tots might stoke the flames of student anger. When a surfer says, "I am so stoked," it means she is excited — the fire of enthusiasm is burning hotter. It's interesting to reflect on how many words in our language have to do with the tending of fires, an activity that has become much less common in recent human history.

Example Sentences

When he stepped inside the ropes on Thursday, McIlroy was finally able to lock in and stoke the competitive fire which has fuelled his outstanding career.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

War headlines and oil prices have been the primary drivers of market moves for more than a month, Hogan added, amid concerns that elevated oil prices could stoke inflation and slow the global economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Government bond prices were weighed by concerns that higher oil prices could stoke inflation and spur central banks to hike interest rates faster or pause rate cuts for longer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

“Ongoing tensions continue to support higher prices, stoke inflation concerns, and reinforce expectations that policymakers may delay easing, or even tighten, monetary policy.”

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Kendra sat beside Seth on the sofa, watching Grandpa stoke the fire.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Related Words

• feed
• stir