- present participle of stimulate.
stimulating
Americanadjective
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causing interest, inspiration, or incitement to action.
We offer a stimulating work environment with lots of opportunity for growth.
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inciting; acting as a cause.
Rapid technological change is described by some authors as a stimulating factor in the decline of traditional ways of growing food.
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having the property of exciting a nerve, gland, etc., to its functional activity.
This plant tincture has a stimulating effect on the liver, spleen, and digestive system.
adjective
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inspiring new ideas or enthusiasm
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(of a physical activity) making one feel refreshed and energetic
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stimulating
First recorded in 1640–50; stimulate ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Something that is stimulating is exciting or interesting. If your teacher wants the whole class to dress up like pandas because it'll be more fun to learn about the adorable creatures that way, you have a stimulating teacher and a stimulating lesson. Stimulating things may activate the mind, the body, and the emotions in a positive way. They can make you feel more alert, engaged, or enthusiastic. Working to solve a challenging puzzle, participating in a lively discussion, or watching an informative documentary may all be stimulating activities. If seeing a close friend makes you feel happy and excited, it's a stimulating experience.
Vocabulary lists containing stimulating
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their effects include stimulating insulin secretion, reducing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness, which can support weight loss.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026
Egg freezing involves stimulating the ovaries with hormone injections before mature eggs are surgically retrieved and preserved for possible future use through in vitro fertilization.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
Unfortunately, much of the rest of the work here is less stimulating.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
On the other hand, variety can be stimulating.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
“Then I apologize, my lady! How terrible it must be to condescend to answer! Next time, I’ll try to think of something more stimulating to say.”
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
