stimulate

[stim-yuh-leyt]

See more synonyms for stimulate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), stim·u·lat·ed, stim·u·lat·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), stim·u·lat·ed, stim·u·lat·ing.

to act as a stimulus or stimulant.

Origin of stimulate

First recorded in 1540–50, stimulate is from the Latin word stimulātus (past participle of stimulāre to goad). See stimulus, -ate¹

Related formsstim·u·la·ble, adjectivestim·u·la·bil·i·ty

[stim-yuh-luh-bil-i-tee] /ˌstɪm yə ləˈbɪl ɪ ti/, nounstim·u·lat·ing·ly, adverbstim·u·la·tion, nounstim·u·la·tor, stim·u·lat·er, nounan·ti·stim·u·la·tion, nounhy·per·stim·u·la·tion, nounin·ter·stim·u·late, verb (used with object), in·ter·stim·u·lat·ed, in·ter·stim·u·lat·ing.in·ter·stim·u·la·tion, nounnon·stim·u·la·ble, adjectivenon·stim·u·lat·ing, adjectivenon·stim·u·la·tion, nouno·ver·stim·u·late, verb, o·ver·stim·u·lat·ed, o·ver·stim·u·lat·ing.o·ver·stim·u·la·tion, nounpost·stim·u·la·tion, adjectivepre·stim·u·late, verb (used with object), pre·stim·u·lat·ed, pre·stim·u·lat·ing.pre·stim·u·la·tion, nounre·stim·u·late, verb (used with object), re·stim·u·lat·ed, re·stim·u·lat·ing.re·stim·u·la·tion, nounself-stim·u·lat·ed, adjectiveself-stim·u·lat·ing, adjectiveself-stim·u·la·tion, nounsem·i·stim·u·lat·ing, adjectivesu·per·stim·u·late, verb (used with object), su·per·stim·u·lat·ed, su·per·stim·u·lat·ing.su·per·stim·u·la·tion, nounun·stim·u·la·ble, adjectiveun·stim·u·lat·ed, adjectiveun·stim·u·lat·ing, adjectiveun·stim·u·lat·ing·ly, adverb

Can be confusedactivate actuate stimulate

Synonyms

See more synonyms for stimulate on Thesaurus.com

1. arouse, activate, excite.

Synonym study

1. See animate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for stimulated

Contemporary Examples

At the same time, the U.K has adopted policies that have stimulated growth.
It’s Always Sunny In England
The Daily Beast
September 17, 2014
The focus is on the revelations and how the reporting enhanced public understanding and stimulated public discussion.
Guardian and WaPo Share Pulitzer: Snowden Hails Victory for “More Accountable Democracy”
David Freedlander
April 14, 2014
Melodramatic telenovelas have helped bring down the birth rate and stimulated literacy in Mexico and Brazil.
The World’s Most Subversive Soap Operas
Christopher Dickey
October 27, 2013
The cheaper yen, off 22 percent against the dollar in the past 12 months, has stimulated higher exports.
Japan’s Fiscal Crossroads: Will Abenomics Mean Tougher Changes?
Daniel Gross
July 26, 2013
And then we transcribed it and discussed it, and it stimulated my thinking and their thinking.
Donald Rumsfeld on What Went Right
John Barry
February 8, 2011

Historical Examples

The scent of a big item was in his nostrils, and it stimulated him like champagne.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
On the present occasion, his native powers were stimulated by the thirst of revenge.
The Last of the Mohicans
James Fenimore Cooper
A hard worker himself, those around him were stimulated to hard work.
Cleveland Past and Present
Maurice Joblin
Promptitude in action may be stimulated by a due consideration of the value of time.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
The audacity of the rebels is stimulated by our sluggishness.
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863
Adam Gurowski

British Dictionary definitions for stimulated

stimulate

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

Word Origin

C16: from Latin stimulāre; see stimulant

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for stimulated

stimulate

v.

1610s, from Latin stimulatus, past participle of stimulare (see stimulation). Related: Stimulated; stimulating.

stimulated in Medicine

stimulate

(stĭm′yə-lāt′)

To arouse a body or a responsive structure to increased functional activity.

stimulate

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Synonyms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for stimulated

Contemporary Examples

At the same time, the U.K has adopted policies that have stimulated growth.

The focus is on the revelations and how the reporting enhanced public understanding and stimulated public discussion.

Melodramatic telenovelas have helped bring down the birth rate and stimulated literacy in Mexico and Brazil.

The cheaper yen, off 22 percent against the dollar in the past 12 months, has stimulated higher exports.

And then we transcribed it and discussed it, and it stimulated my thinking and their thinking.

Historical Examples

The scent of a big item was in his nostrils, and it stimulated him like champagne.

On the present occasion, his native powers were stimulated by the thirst of revenge.

A hard worker himself, those around him were stimulated to hard work.

Promptitude in action may be stimulated by a due consideration of the value of time.

The audacity of the rebels is stimulated by our sluggishness.

stimulate

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for stimulated

stimulate

v.

stimulate

Origin of stimulate