stimulant

American  

[stim-yuh-luhnt] / ˈstɪm jə lənt /

noun

• stimulants
  plural

1. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. something that temporarily quickens some vital process or the functional activity of some organ or part.

   Adrenalin is a stimulant for the heart.

2. any food or beverage that stimulates, especially coffee, tea, or, in its initial effect, alcoholic liquor.

3. a stimulus or incentive.

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adjective

1. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. temporarily quickening some vital process or functional activity.

2. stimulating.

stimulant British  

/ ˈstɪmjʊlənt /

noun

1. a drug or similar substance that increases physiological activity, esp of a particular organ

2. any stimulating agent or thing

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adjective

1. increasing physiological activity; stimulating

stimulant Scientific  

/ stĭm′yə-lənt /

1. An agent, especially a drug, that causes increased activity, especially of the nervous or cardiovascular systems. Caffeine is a commonly used stimulant.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonstimulant
  noun
• antistimulant
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• stimulants
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stimulant

First recorded in 1720–30, stimulant is from the Latin word stimulant- (stem of stimulāns, present participle of stimulāre to goad). See stimulus, -ant

Explanation

A stimulant is a drug that speeds up your body or an event that spurs you to action. Both types of stimulant get you going. You might drink coffee in the morning for a reason: the caffeine in coffee is a stimulant, which gives you energy and helps you wake up. Other stimulants are much more harmful, such as illegal drugs like cocaine, but all stimulants speed up your system. Also, a stimulant can be anything that arouses action. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, it was a stimulant that drove America into World War II.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stimulant stimulants

“It is a terrific stimulant of a sense of urgency.”

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

For decades, stimulant medications have been thought to work by directly influencing brain regions responsible for attention.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 29, 2025

Adding the stimulant Evekeo only made him more hyperactive; Concerta and ProCentra also didn’t help.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025

So, Gomez sent them home with an antibiotic and an appetite stimulant.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2025

It was their delight, their folly, their anodyne, their intellectual stimulant.

From "1984" by George Orwell

NHS figures from December last year show a 23% increase in stimulants and drugs prescribed for ADHD, compared to the previous year.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

The trial followed a series of articles in The Wall Street Journal from 2022 to 2024 that described Done’s practices, including its fast prescriptions and how some clinicians felt pressured to hand out stimulants.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

Rising wages and low unemployment are acting as stimulants.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 28, 2026

"I've tried antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzos, sleeping pills and stimulants, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy... tai chi, reiki, meditation, veganism, art therapy and music therapy," the former stand-up comedian said.

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

In all cases of severity the use of tonics and stimulants should be maintained in reduced doses during the intermission and for some days after the final fall of temperature.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

Related Words

• catalyst
• drug
• impetus
• stimulus