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stimulate

[ stim-yuh-leyt ]
/ ĖˆstÉŖm yəĖŒleÉŖt /
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See synonyms for: stimulate / stimulated / stimulates / stimulating on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), stimĀ·uĀ·latĀ·ed, stimĀ·uĀ·latĀ·ing.
to rouse to action or effort, as by encouragement or pressure; spur on; incite: to stimulate his interest in mathematics.
Physiology, Medicine/Medical. to excite (a nerve, gland, etc.) to its functional activity.
to invigorate (a person) by a food or beverage containing a stimulant as coffee, tea, or alcoholic liquor.
verb (used without object), stimĀ·uĀ·latĀ·ed, stimĀ·uĀ·latĀ·ing.
to act as a stimulus or stimulant.
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Origin of stimulate

First recorded in 1540ā€“50; from Latin stimulāt(us) (past participle of stimulāre ā€œto goadā€); see -ate1

synonym study for stimulate

1. See animate.

OTHER WORDS FROM stimulate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH stimulate

activate, stimulate

Words nearby stimulate

stim, stime, stimming, Stimson, stimulant, stimulate, stimulated emission, stimulating, stimulative, stimuli, stimulus
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to stimulate

arouse, encourage, inspire, prompt, quicken, spark, spur, trigger, vitalize, activate, animate, commove, dynamize, elate, energize, enliven, exhilarate, fan, fire, foment

How to use stimulate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stimulate

stimulate
/ (ĖˆstÉŖmjŹŠĖŒleÉŖt) /
verb
(tr; usually passive) to fill (a person) with ideas or enthusiasmhe was stimulated by the challenge
(tr) physiol to excite (a nerve, organ, etc) with a stimulus
to encourage (something) to start or progress furthera cut in interest rates should help stimulate economic recovery

Derived forms of stimulate

stimulable, adjectivestimulation, nounstimulative, adjective, nounstimulator or stimulater, noun

Word Origin for stimulate

C16: from Latin stimulāre; see stimulant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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