stimulate

American  

[stim-yuh-leyt] / ˈstɪm yəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

stimulated, stimulating

1. to rouse to action or effort, as by encouragement or pressure; spur on; incite.

   A childhood summer learning program was the first thing to stimulate his interest in mathematics.

   Synonyms:

   excite, activate, arouse

2. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. to excite (a nerve, gland, etc.) to its functional activity.

3. to invigorate (a person) by a food or beverage containing a stimulant such as coffee or tea.

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verb (used without object)

stimulated, stimulating

1. to act as a stimulus or stimulant.

stimulate British  

/ ˈstɪmjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. (tr; usually passive) to fill (a person) with ideas or enthusiasm

   he was stimulated by the challenge

2. (tr) physiol to excite (a nerve, organ, etc) with a stimulus

3. to encourage (something) to start or progress further

   a cut in interest rates should help stimulate economic recovery

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Related Words

See animate.

Other Word Forms

• interstimulate verb (used with object)
• nonstimulable adjective
• overstimulate verb
• prestimulate verb (used with object)
• restimulate verb (used with object)
• self-stimulated adjective
• stimulability noun
• stimulable adjective
• stimulater noun
• stimulation noun
• stimulative adjective
• stimulator noun
• superstimulate verb (used with object)
• unstimulable adjective
• unstimulated adjective

Etymology

Origin of stimulate

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin stimulāt(us) “goaded” (past participle of stimulāre “to goad, incite,” from stimulus stimulus ( def. ) ); -ate ¹

Explanation

If the economy is starting to stall, the president can't just sit there. He has to stimulate—turn it on, bring it to life, perk it up. You can stimulate practically anything: a person, a conversation, a mind, or even the growth of a plant. Stimulate is often used to describe a physical or sexual sensation, but don't get bogged down in that kind of thinking. Often, a government will try to stimulate economic activity by creating a stimulus package. Or, say, for example, that I'm trying to sell my new song CD. In order to stimulate interest, I need to send out a sample song to all my friends. Unless, of course, my songs are no good.

Example Sentences

These hurt demand and, eventually, stimulate investment in new supply.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

She underwent fertility treatment to try to stimulate her ovaries to produce as many eggs as possible.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Starting in 2008, the Fed launched a series of emergency bond-buying programs, first to stabilize markets during the financial crisis, and later to stimulate the economy when cutting short-term rates to near zero wasn’t enough.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

All of which would stimulate demand for, yes, bonds.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

Hitler also initiated another program to stimulate Germany’s economy and create jobs: He began to rearm Germany.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Related Words

• arouse
• encourage
• inspire
• prompt
• quicken
• spark
• spur
• trigger
• vitalize