- 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.
With the September hike, interest rates are now in the 1.1% to 2.5% range that the bank considers neither stimulating nor restricting the economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
It’s also a fitting reminder that whereas horror films once appealed primarily to the imagination, they are now largely rendered in visceral terms—causing scares, to be sure, but without stimulating the mind much.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
Galderma owns popular aesthetic products including Sculptra, an injectable aimed at stimulating collagen production, and Restylane, which is an injectable dermal filler.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
By maintaining or stimulating this communication pathway, they increased physical activity, improved age-related metabolic function, and extended lifespan in mice.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
I wish I could explain to you how fascinating and stimulating are the lectures that we receive here at Miss Preston's, but I’m afraid my descriptions will never do them justice...
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
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