stoke

¹ American  

[stohk] / stoʊk /

verb (used with object)

stoked, stoking

1. to poke, stir up, and feed (a fire).

2. to tend the fire of (a furnace, especially one used with a boiler to generate steam for an engine); supply with fuel.

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verb (used without object)

stoked, stoking

1. to shake up the coals of a fire.

2. to tend a fire or furnace.

stoke ² American  

[stohk] / stoʊk /

noun

Physics.

1. a unit of kinematic viscosity, equal to the viscosity of a fluid in poises divided by the density of the fluid in grams per cubic centimeter.

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stoke British  

/ stəʊk /

verb

1. to feed, stir, and tend (a fire, furnace, etc)

2. (tr) to tend the furnace of; act as a stoker for

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Etymology

Origin of stoke¹

1675–85; < Dutch stoken to feed or stock a fire; see stock

Origin of stoke²

After Sir G. Stokes

Explanation

To stoke is to poke a fire and fuel it so that it burns higher. Stoke can also mean "incite" — a principal's impassive silence in the face of requests for more tater tots might stoke the flames of student anger. When a surfer says, "I am so stoked," it means she is excited — the fire of enthusiasm is burning hotter. It's interesting to reflect on how many words in our language have to do with the tending of fires, an activity that has become much less common in recent human history.

Example Sentences

Longtime critics of subways used the explosion to stoke community fears that tunneling would lead to exploding homes.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

One must wonder whether these flashy ads do more to stoke his base rather than convince the massive number of undecided voters frustrated with Bass to join his cause.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

When he stepped inside the ropes on Thursday, McIlroy was finally able to lock in and stoke the competitive fire which has fuelled his outstanding career.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

TOKYO—Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda joined a growing chorus of officials pledging to monitor the yen closely, as the Middle East conflict continues to pressure the currency and stoke inflation concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The angrier, more powerful ghosts used the trolley to find new hosts: tired, unsuspecting bodies to possess for a little while, warmth to steal from cheeks and other exposed skin, and ill tempers to stoke.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

Related Words

• feed
• stir