stoke

verb

stoked; stoking
Synonyms of stokenext

transitive verb

1
: to poke or stir up (a fire, flames, etc.) : supply with fuel
2
: to feed abundantly
3
: to increase the activity, intensity, or amount of
… limiting the number of cars available … will help stoke demand for the car.Keith Naughton

intransitive verb

: to stir up or tend a fire (as in a furnace) : supply a furnace with fuel

Examples of stoke in a Sentence

The engineer stoked the coals. The new ad campaign has helped to stoke sales. Poor revenue figures have stoked concerns about possible layoffs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But right now, given the dark passions that have been unleashed within MAGA and the leader of the movement, who stokes those passions several times each day, the chances of large-scale depolarization are vanishingly small. Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026 Division is stoked so easily because the information is spreading in highly unequal ways. Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Some of the videos were specifically about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, which stoked widespread outrage and condemnation all across social media sites. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026 The Euphoria star stoked controversy after reportedly climbing onto the Hollywood sign without a permit to promote her brand. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stoke

Word History

Etymology

Dutch stoken; akin to Middle Dutch stuken to push

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stoke was in 1683

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoke. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

stoke

verb
stoked; stoking
1
: to stir up or tend (as a fire)
2
: to supply (as a furnace) with fuel
3
: to feed plentifully
stoker noun

Medical Definition

stoke

noun
: the cgs unit of kinematic viscosity being that of a fluid which has a viscosity of one poise and a density of one gram per cubic centimeter

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