: 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
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
The drums are gentle and stirring; the arrangement evokes a pulsing lullaby.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025
Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
Add the garlic, chile and ginger, and cook, stirring, until the garlic and chiles have softened but haven’t taken on any color, another minute or so.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stirring
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Adjective
The plane’s black box is found and reveals what really happened on the fateful flight, including Ben’s stirring anti-Network speech.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
The drums are gentle and stirring; the arrangement evokes a pulsing lullaby.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
Just batch the drink, dilute it slightly with water (which would normally come from shaking or stirring), and pop it in the freezer.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
Add the garlic, chile and ginger, and cook, stirring, until the garlic and chiles have softened but haven’t taken on any color, another minute or so.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Cite this Entry
“Stirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stirring. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.
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