Definition

Verb: 1. To provoke or incite (a strong reaction, emotion, or action): To cause something, often something negative or disruptive like trouble, unrest, or strong feelings, to begin or increase. 2. To arouse or excite feelings and passions: To cause emotions, such as anger, compassion, or enthusiasm, to become active or stronger. 3. To change the arrangement or position of by agitating: To mix or disturb the contents of something, causing movement. (This meaning is less common for the phrasal verb and is more directly related to the base verb "stir").

Examples

• Provoke or incite:
  • His speech was intended to stir up resentment among the voters.
  • The article stirred up a major controversy.
• Arouse or excite feelings:
  • The documentary stirred up a lot of sympathy for the cause.
  • The old photograph stirred up fond memories of my childhood.
• Change arrangement by agitating (less common for the phrasal verb):
  • The wind stirred up the leaves on the path.

Advanced Usage

• "stir up trouble": To deliberately cause problems or discord.
  • He's always trying to stir up trouble between colleagues.
• "stir up a hornet's nest" (idiomatic): To cause a lot of trouble or anger, often by getting involved in a sensitive situation.
  • Asking about the pay cuts really stirred up a hornet's nest.

Variants and Related Words

• Stir (verb): To mix a liquid or substance; to cause to move slightly; to arouse an emotion or feeling.
  • Stir the soup gently.
  • The story stirred her curiosity.
• Agitate (verb): To make someone troubled or nervous; to stir or shake a liquid.

Synonyms

• Incite: To encourage unlawful or violent behavior.
• 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.
• Foment: To instigate or stir up (undesirable sentiment or action).
• Whip up: To excite or provoke strong feelings, often quickly.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Stir in: To mix an ingredient into a liquid or mixture.
  • Stir in the vanilla extract last.
• Stir around: To move things around within a container or area.
  • She stirred around in her bag looking for her keys.

Related Idioms

• Stir the pot: To cause trouble or controversy, often deliberately.
  • He loves to stir the pot at family gatherings by bringing up old arguments.

Verb

1. provoke or stir up
   • incite a riot
   • set off great unrest among the people
2. change the arrangement or position of
3. arouse or excite feelings and passions
   • The ostentatious way of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor
   • The refugees' fate stirred up compassion around the world
   • Wake old feelings of hatred
4. try to stir up public opinion