stimulate

[stim-yuh-leyt]

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.

verb (used without object)

stimulated, stimulating 

1. to act as a stimulus or stimulant.

stimulate

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulate¹

C16: from Latin stimulāre; see _stimulant

Synonym Study

See animate.

Example Sentences

The home was close to people he liked and projects he found stimulating.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In experiments, this apigenin stimulated soil bacteria to form protective biofilms, enabling nitrogenase to fix nitrogen in a usable form that the wheat could absorb.

Read more on Science Daily

In studies involving mice, this approach successfully treated glioblastoma by stimulating the brain's immune system.

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"The solution can dilute the blocked nose, stimulate turnover of mucus and relieve inflammation."

Read more on BBC

Brundage, like many at the time, chose sensationalism to stimulate sales.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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