stirring

[ stur-ing ]

/ ˈstɜr ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR stirring ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

rousing, exciting, or thrilling: a stirring speech.

moving, active, bustling, or lively: a stirring business.

noun Usually stirrings.

a mental impulse, sensation, or feeling: stirrings of hope.

a small movement: the best thing she could do was to pretend that her husband's nocturnal stirrings didn't wake her

Nearby words

stirlingshire, stirp, stirpiculture, stirps, stirrer, stirring, stirringly, stirrup, stirrup bone, stirrup cup, stirrup jar

Origin of stirring

before 900; Middle English stiringe, Old English styriende. See stir¹, -ing²

Related forms

stir·ring·ly, adverbun·stir·ring, adjective

Definition for stirring (2 of 2)

stir

[ stur ]

/ stɜr /

verb (used with object), stirred, stir·ring.

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.

to set in tremulous, fluttering, or irregular motion: A soft breeze stirred the leaves.

to affect strongly; excite: to stir pity; to stir one's heart.

to incite, instigate, or prompt (usually followed by up): to stir up a people to rebellion.

to move briskly; bestir: to stir oneself.

to move, especially in a slight way: He would not stir a finger to help them.

to rouse from inactivity, quiet, contentment, indifference, etc. (usually followed by up): to stir up his potential.

to bring up for notice or discussion.

to disturb; trouble.

verb (used without object), stirred, stir·ring.

to move, especially slightly or lightly: Not a leaf stirred.

to move around, especially briskly; be active: Everyone in the house was stirring.

to become active, as from some rousing or quickening impulse.

to be emotionally moved or strongly affected.

to be in circulation, current, or afoot: Is there any news stirring?

noun

the act of stirring or moving.

the sound made by stirring or moving slightly.

a state or occasion of general excitement; commotion: The news created a stir.

a mental impulse, sensation, or feeling: a stir of hope.

a jog, poke, or thrust: He gave the refuse a stir with his foot.

movement, especially brisk and busy movement: There was too much clamor and stir for her.

Origin of stir

before 900; Middle English stiren (v.), Old English styrian; cognate with German stören; akin to Old Norse styrr disturbance; see storm

SYNONYMS FOR stir

1 disturb.

4 rouse, foment, arouse, provoke, stimulate, goad, spur.

17 fuss, pother, agitation, disorder, uproar.

20 bustle,

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ANTONYMS FOR stir

17 quiet.

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Related forms

stir·ra·ble, adjectivestir·less, adjectivestir·less·ly, adverbun·stir·ra·ble, adjective

un·stirred, adjectivewell-stirred, adjective

Synonym study

17. See ado.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for stirring

Cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
Make ‘The Chew’s’ Carla Hall’s Sticky Toffee Pudding|Carla Hall|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Add chocolate and butter to the bowl and melt, stirring to combine.
Carla Hall’s Christmas Day Treat: Rum Balls|Carla Hall|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Economic development, then, is not simply about adding a cornucopia of talent or cool, then shaking and stirring it like a drink.
The Rustbelt Roars Back From the Dead|Joel Kotkin, Richey Piiparinen|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sprinkle on the flour and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
Make These Barefoot Contessa Chicken Pot Pies|Ina Garten|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Joseph Heller called it the “most stirring and lucid account of World War II that I have ever read.”
Blood in the Sand: When James Jones Wrote a Grunt’s View of D-Day|James Jones|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Randolph had been stirring the story of Lethingtons opening the coffer in a green cover, in the autumn of 1570.
The Mystery of Mary Stuart|Andrew Lang
"Suppose we go up to the Corner and see what's stirring," suggested the Donkey, with a yawn.
The Wit and Humor of America, Volume III. (of X.)|Various
Sweeten it to your taste; set it over the fire, and keep it stirring till it boils.
The Lady's Own Cookery Book, and New Dinner-Table Directory;|Charlotte Campbell Bury
Mrs. Howe responded to the effect that she would endeavor to write other words that might be sung to this stirring melody.
Campfire and Battlefield|Rossiter Johnson
Socialism was talked about in the reviews: some of us knew that an obscure Socialist movement was stirring into life in London.
The History of the Fabian Society|Edward R. Pease

British Dictionary definitions for stirring (1 of 3)

stirring

/ (ˈstɜːrɪŋ) /

adjective

exciting the emotions; stimulating

active, lively, or busy

Derived Forms

stirringly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for stirring (2 of 3)

stir

/ (stɜː) /

verb stirs, stirring or stirred

to move an implement such as a spoon around in (a liquid) so as to mix up the constituentsshe stirred the porridge

to change or cause to change position; disturb or be disturbedhe stirred in his sleep

(intr often foll by from) to venture or depart (from one's usual or preferred place)he won't stir from the fireside

(intr) to be active after a rest; be up and about

(tr) to excite or stimulate, esp emotionally

to move (oneself) briskly or vigorously; exert (oneself)

(tr) to rouse or awakento stir someone from sleep; to stir memories

informal (when tr, foll by up) to cause or incite others to cause (trouble, arguments, etc)

stir one's stumps informal to move or become active

noun

the act or an instance of stirring or the state of being stirred

a strong reaction, esp of excitementhis publication caused a stir

a slight movement

NZ informal a noisy party

Derived Forms

stirrable, adjective

Word Origin for stir

Old English styrian; related to Middle High German stürn to poke, stir, Norwegian styrja to cause a commotion; see storm, sturgeon

British Dictionary definitions for stirring (3 of 3)

stir

/ (stɜː) /

noun

a slang word for prison in stir

Word Origin for stir

C19: perhaps from Romany stariben prison

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

Idioms and Phrases with stirring

stir

In addition to the idioms beginning with stir

stir up
stir up a hornets' nest

also see:

cause a commotion (stir)