: a beginning of motion or activity : movement
—often used in plural
the first stirrings of revolution
Examples of stirring in a Sentence
Adjective
a stirring rendition of the national anthem
the message of brotherhood in Martin Luther King's stirring “I Have a Dream” speech still resonates today
Noun
I thought I detected a slight stirring of the leaves, and yet there wasn't a breath of wind.
Recent Examples on the Web
Allison Aubrey, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Compared to the decisive, bold performance from Italian singer Laura Pausini, who rocked the country's national anthem alongside a stirring choir in Cortina, Carey fell decidedly flat.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Angela Yang, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
Set in the remote highlands of Montenegro, the film tells the story of a shepherd mother and her daughter who proudly defend their ancestral mountain from the threat of becoming a NATO military training ground, stirring memories of past violence that once shattered their family.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stirring
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Adjective
It is located on a ranch in the high plains of New Mexico outside Sante Fe, with stirring views of the Sandia, Ortiz and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges.
—Allison Aubrey, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Compared to the decisive, bold performance from Italian singer Laura Pausini, who rocked the country's national anthem alongside a stirring choir in Cortina, Carey fell decidedly flat.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
The attempt to make an appeal to his ex on the global stage quickly made the rounds online, stirring intrigue and confusion.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
Set in the remote highlands of Montenegro, the film tells the story of a shepherd mother and her daughter who proudly defend their ancestral mountain from the threat of becoming a NATO military training ground, stirring memories of past violence that once shattered their family.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Cite this Entry
“Stirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stirring. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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