stimulate
A scientist uses a mild electric current to stimulate a frog's leg muscle in an experiment.
- Verb:
- To encourage or cause something to become more active, grow, or develop: To provide a stimulus that increases activity, interest, or development in a person, thing, or process.
- To make someone feel interested, excited, or enthusiastic: To arouse or excite a person's feelings, thoughts, or energy.
- To cause a physiological or biological reaction: To prompt a specific response or function in a body or system.
- Verb:
- The government hopes the new policy will stimulate economic growth.
- A good teacher knows how to stimulate students' curiosity.
- Caffeine is known to stimulate the central nervous system.
"to stimulate discussion/debate": to encourage people to start talking or arguing about a topic.
- The controversial article was intended to stimulate public debate.
"to stimulate demand/production": to cause an increase in the desire for goods or in the rate of manufacturing.
- Tax cuts are often used to stimulate consumer demand.
"to stimulate (someone) into action": to cause someone to start doing something.
- The alarming report stimulated the committee into immediate action.
Stimulant (noun): A substance, such as a drug, that increases physiological or nervous activity.
- Nicotine is a powerful stimulant.
Stimulation (noun): The action of stimulating or the state of being stimulated.
- The baby needs plenty of mental stimulation.
Stimulus (noun): Something that causes a reaction or growth.
- The tax rebate served as an economic stimulus.
- Encourage: To give support, confidence, or hope to someone.
- Provoke: To stimulate or give rise to a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one.
- Arouse: To evoke or awaken a feeling or response.
- Incite: To encourage or stir up violent or unlawful behavior.
(Note: "Stimulate" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly or through related phrases.)
"Stimulate the juices": (informal) to increase interest or appetite.
- Let's look at the menu to stimulate the juices.
"A stimulating environment": a setting that encourages intellectual activity and growth.
- The university provides a stimulating environment for research.
A scientist uses a mild electric current to stimulate a frog's leg muscle in an experiment.
- provide the needed stimulus for
- stir feelings in
- stimulate my appetite
- excite the audience
- stir emotions
- cause to occur rapidly
- the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions
- cause to be alert and energetic
- Coffee and tea stimulate me
- This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate
- stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of
- These stories shook the community
- the civil war shook the country
- cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner
- The ads induced me to buy a VCR
- My children finally got me to buy a computer
- My wife made me buy a new sofa
- act as a stimulant
- The book stimulated her imagination
- This play stimulates