stir up
Britishverb
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Mix together the ingredients or parts, as in He stirred up some pancake batter , or Will you stir up the fire? [Mid-1300s]
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Rouse to action, incite, provoke, as in He's always stirring up trouble among the campers , or If the strikers aren't careful they'll stir up a riot . [First half of 1500s] Also see stir up a hornets' nest .
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.
Back to school can stir up many emotions for parents, including anxiety about the extra costs it brings.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
But a cut is on the horizon if a weak jobs and inflation stir up Wall Street.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
Fox’s fear of losing games created a highly unusual situation where Murdoch was seeking to stir up trouble for a partner it pays billions, fraying a relationship that has lasted for decades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
At times, the novels stir up memories from the women’s lives, prompting poignant, often vulnerable discussions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
Mr. Paine knew how to stir up the pot; he went right after the King and attacked the crown on his head.
From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
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.
