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View synonyms for

stimulate

[ stim-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

stimulated, stimulating.
  1. to rouse to action or effort, as by encouragement or pressure; spur on; incite:

    A childhood summer learning program was the first thing to stimulate his interest in mathematics.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. to excite (a nerve, gland, etc.) to its functional activity.
  3. to invigorate (a person) by a food or beverage containing a stimulant such as coffee or tea.


verb (used without object)

stimulated, stimulating.
  1. to act as a stimulus or stimulant.

stimulate

/ ˈɪʊˌɪ /

verb

  1. tr; usually passive to fill (a person) with ideas or enthusiasm

    he was stimulated by the challenge

  2. tr physiol to excite (a nerve, organ, etc) with a stimulus
  3. to encourage (something) to start or progress further

    a cut in interest rates should help stimulate economic recovery

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌپˈپDz, noun
  • ˈپܱ, adjective
  • ˈپˌٴǰ, noun
  • ˈپܱپ, adjectivenoun
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Other Word Forms

  • پ··· adjective
  • پ·····ٲ [stim-y, uh, -l, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
  • پ···پDz [stim-y, uh, -, ley, -sh, uh, n], noun
  • پ···ٴǰ پ··· noun
  • ·ٱ·پ··ٱ verb (used with object) interstimulated interstimulating
  • non·پ··· adjective
  • ··پ··ٱ verb overstimulated overstimulating
  • ·پ··ٱ verb (used with object) prestimulated prestimulating
  • ·پ··ٱ verb (used with object) restimulated restimulating
  • -پ··· adjective
  • ··پ··ٱ verb (used with object) superstimulated superstimulating
  • un·پ··· adjective
  • ܲ·پ··· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulate1

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin پܱ(ܲ) “goaded” (past participle of پܱ “to goad, incite,” from stimulus stimulus ( def ) ); -ate 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulate1

C16: from Latin پܱ; see stimulant
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Synonym Study

See animate.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Still stimulated by the chance to silence a road playoff crowd, he played with his most energy all series.

From

However, in the study, the laser only stimulated M cones, "which in principle would send a colour signal to the brain that never occurs in natural vision", the paper said.

From

Chinese policymakers have also been trying to stimulate more growth in a sluggish economy by encouraging consumers to spend.

From

Rather than continue to stimulate important conversations, the Dodgers are back to whistling past America’s graveyard, pretending there is nothing hypocritical about visiting President Trump one week and celebrating Jackie Robinson Day the next.

From

Vaccines work by stimulating the body's natural immune response, so that it prevents infection using the body's own resources.

From

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stimulantstimulated emission