stimulate

verb

stim·u·late | \ ˈstim-yə-ˌlāt

stimulated; stimulating

Definition of stimulate

transitive verb

1 : to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity : animate, arouse

2a : to function as a physiological stimulus to

b : to arouse or affect by a stimulant (such as a drug)

intransitive verb

: to act as a stimulant or stimulus

Other Words from stimulate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about stimulate

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Other Words from stimulate

stimulation \ ˌstim-yə-ˈlā-shən

\ noun

stimulative \ ˈstim-yə-ˌlā-tiv

\ adjective

stimulator \ ˈstim-yə-ˌlā-tər

\ noun

stimulatory \ ˈstim-yə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē

\ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for stimulate

provoke, excite, stimulate, pique, quicken mean to arouse as if by pricking. provoke directs attention to the response called forth. my stories usually provoke laughter excite implies a stirring up or moving profoundly. news that excited anger and frustration stimulate suggests a rousing out of lethargy, quiescence, or indifference. stimulating conversation pique suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge. that remark piqued my interest quicken implies beneficially stimulating and making active or lively. the high salary quickened her desire to have the job

Examples of stimulate in a Sentence

A raise in employee wages might stimulate production. The economy was not stimulated by the tax cuts. a hormone that stimulates the growth of muscle tissue Their discussion stimulated him to research the subject more. He was stimulated by their discussion.

Recent Examples on the Web

His solution is to give every citizen $1,000 a month to stimulate the economy. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "Everybody Running for President in 2020," 18 Jan. 2019 Still, some analysts said the banks could be doing more to stimulate the economy. — Emily Flitter, New York Times, "Bank Earnings Climb in Growing Economy, but Lending Doesn’t Keep Pace," 13 July 2018 Soon, though, two main classes of diabetes medicine will be made here: insulin injectables and GLP-1, a hormone that stimulates insulin production, first derived from the venom of Gila monsters. — Max Blau, STAT, "In the ‘diabetes belt,’ a small town grapples with growth of the world’s largest insulin maker," 15 May 2018 With more than 40% of people living in poverty, a key issue is how a candidate plans to stimulate economic growth. — Ciara Nugent, Time, "Your Complete Guide to Mexico's 2018 Elections," 29 June 2018 Several studies have shown that a higher-fat diet can reduce cravings and levels of appetite-stimulating hormones ghrelin and insulin. — Karla Walsh, Woman's Day, "The Ultimate Keto Diet Foods List of What You Can (and Can't) Eat," 28 Dec. 2018 Bercovici theorizes that aging elite athletes know something the rest of us don’t and use tools most of us haven’t heard of yet, like brain-stimulating headsets that enhance motor skills or DNA testing to predict injuries. — Graham Averill, Outside Online, "The Secret to Athletic Longevity Is Surprisingly Simple," 17 May 2018 Can carrots and leaves and flowers really be as effective as a cell-stimulating chemical? — Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, "Okay, Do "Gentle" Plant-Based Retinols Really Work?," 3 May 2018 From mind-stimulating activities to games for hand-eye coordination, this technology provides a variety of tools for the older adults at Three Pillars. — Milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "It's Never 2 Late technology helps seniors at Three Pillars in Dousman," 26 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stimulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.