stir
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to move one's hand or an implement continuously or repeatedly through (a liquid or other substance) in order to cool, mix, agitate, dissolve, etc., any or all of the component parts.
to stir one's coffee with a spoon.
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to set in tremulous, fluttering, or irregular motion.
A soft breeze stirred the leaves.
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to affect strongly; excite.
to stir pity;
to stir one's heart.
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to incite, instigate, or provoke (usually followed byup ).
to stir up a people to rebellion.
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to move briskly; bestir.
to stir oneself.
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to move, especially in a slight way.
He would not stir a finger to help them.
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to rouse from inactivity, quiet, contentment, indifference, etc. (usually followed byup ).
to stir up his potential.
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to bring up for notice or discussion.
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Older Use. to disturb; trouble.
A slow wave of remembrance stirred her peace.
verb (used without object)
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to move, especially slightly or lightly.
Not a leaf stirred.
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to move around, especially briskly; be active.
Everyone in the house was stirring.
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to become active, as from some rousing or quickening impulse.
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to be emotionally moved or strongly affected.
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to be in circulation, current, or afoot.
Is there any news stirring?
noun
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the act of stirring or moving.
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the sound made by stirring or moving slightly.
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a state or occasion of general excitement; commotion.
The news created a stir.
- Antonyms:
- quiet
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a mental impulse, sensation, or feeling.
a stir of hope.
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a jog, poke, or thrust.
He gave the refuse a stir with his foot.
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movement, especially brisk and busy movement.
There was too much clamor and stir for her.
idioms
noun
verb
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to move an implement such as a spoon around in (a liquid) so as to mix up the constituents
she stirred the porridge
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to change or cause to change position; disturb or be disturbed
he stirred in his sleep
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to venture or depart (from one's usual or preferred place)
he won't stir from the fireside
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(intr) to be active after a rest; be up and about
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(tr) to excite or stimulate, esp emotionally
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to move (oneself) briskly or vigorously; exert (oneself)
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(tr) to rouse or awaken
to stir someone from sleep
to stir memories
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informal to cause or incite others to cause (trouble, arguments, etc)
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informal to move or become active
noun
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the act or an instance of stirring or the state of being stirred
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a strong reaction, esp of excitement
his publication caused a stir
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a slight movement
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informal a noisy party
abbreviation
noun
Related Words
See ado.
Other Word Forms
- stirless adjective
- stirlessly adverb
- stirrable adjective
- unstirrable adjective
- unstirred adjective
- well-stirred adjective
Etymology
Origin of stir1
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb stiren, Old English styrian; cognate with German stören “to disturb, interrupt”; akin to Old Norse styrr “disturbance, brawl”; storm
Origin of stir2
First rcorded in 1830–35; argot word of obscure origin; perhaps from Romani sturiben “prison,” staripen “imprison”; compare earlier argot start in same sense
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.
Like Melbourne, returning to Sydney will stir unbearable emotions that no parent ever should feel.
From BBC
Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have stirred so much fear in the immigrant community that some have been reluctant to participate in prosecutions.
From Salon
In many parts of the ocean, strong storms stir up cooler water from below, which can weaken the storm.
From Science Daily
Somehow, a beaten and bruised England must stir themselves to find a Christmas miracle at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the most anticipated day in the Australian sporting calendar.
From BBC
What do you mean you hunted and gathered ingredients—this, in an age when eggs are practically a luxury item—and stood at the stove stirring, spooning and thinking of me?
From Salon
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.
