stirring

1 of 2

adjective

stir·​ring ˈstər-iŋ 

1

: active, bustling

2

: rousing, inspiring

a stirring speech

stirring

2 of 2

noun

: a beginning of motion or activity : movement

—often used in plural

the first stirrings of revolution

Synonyms of stirring

Adjective

• breathtaking
• exciting
• interesting
• thrilling
• intriguing
• inspiring

Noun

• shifting
• movement
• move
• shift

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

Adjective

Finding an instability that spins up vortexes along the edge of every magnetic element means finding a stirring mechanism where none was expected to exist. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026

Facing global threats, including a kingdom of undersea warriors, a new Black Panther comes to the forefront in a stirring story about life, legacy and loss. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026

Noun

Snapshot is a stirring blend of gothic noir; horror documentary and found footage stretching reality in an innovative way. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026

Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute; remove from heat and add tequila and Triple Sec. — Martha Stewart, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stirring

• blurring
• flouring
• furring
• purring
• slurring
• spurring
• whirring
• averring
• concurring
• conferring
• deburring
• deferring

Kids Definition

stirring

adjective

stir·​ring

ˈstər-iŋ

: moving sense 3, inspiring

a stirring speech