SINCE 1828
stir up
phrasal verb
stirred up;
stirring up;
stirs up
Definition of stir up
1
: to cause (someone) to feel a strong emotion and a desire to do something
The speech stirred up the crowd.
2
: to cause (something) to move up into and through the air or water
The workers stirred up a lot of dust.
3
: to cause (something, usually something bad or unpleasant) to happen
They're trying to stir up trouble. stirring up racial hatred His critical comments certainly stirred things up.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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