stir up

verb

stirred up; stirring up; stirs up

transitive verb

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.
But, of course, there's a reason politicians generally try to communicate deliberately: It helps them avoid saying things that might offend voters or stir up controversy.Philip Bump
I'm not a rebel, trying to stir things up just to be provocative.Norma Klein
… the incident stirred up a hornet's nest of protest and indignation.Robert T. Martinott

Examples of stir up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The moon’s clash with Mercury stirs up morning anxieties. Usa Today, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025 At 14, Pari Singh made just enough money to stir up an existential crisis. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025 Each of those seasons sparked conversations around sensational portrayals of murder victims, and Ed Gein has also been stirring up some debate. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025 Experts share how to talk to your teen about their costume without stirring up drama. Kara Nesvig, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stir up

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stir up was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Stir up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stir%20up. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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