stir

Formsstirs, stirring, stirred

Pluralstirs

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To move a liquid around with a spoon or stick.

   Like mixing sugar into a drink with a spoon.

   Stir the soup so it doesn't burn.

   She stirred her tea slowly while thinking.

   Similaragitate

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To mix what is inside a pot or bowl by moving a spoon through it.

   Stir the pot every few minutes so nothing sticks.

   He stirred the bucket of seeds to mix them well.

   Similarmix, agitate, churn

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The action of moving a liquid around with a spoon.

   Give the soup a stir before you taste it.

   The paint needs a good stir before you use it.

   Similarmix, swirl

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To make someone feel a strong emotion deep inside.

   Like a sad song that makes your eyes fill with tears.

   The sad movie stirred her to tears.

   His kind words can stir even the coldest heart.

   Similarmove, touch, affect, rouse, thrill

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To make people want to act or do something.

   Like a coach who makes the team excited before a big game.

   The speech stirred the workers to demand fair pay.

   Good leaders can stir a team to do their best.

   Similarmotivate, prompt, drive, encourage, provoke

   Oppositediscourage, deter, pacify, calm

   Note
6. 6
   verbintransitive

   To start to move a little after being still.

   Like a sleeping cat that moves a little before it wakes.

   The baby began to stir in her crib.

   Leaves stirred softly in the morning breeze.

   Similarmove, budge, twitch, shift

   Note
7. 7
   nounusually singular

   A lot of busy movement and noise in a place.

   There was a busy stir in the kitchen before the feast.

   The market filled with the stir of morning trade.

   Similarbustle, commotion, activity, hubbub, flurry

   Oppositecalm, quiet, stillness, tranquility

   Note
8. 8
   verbintransitive

   Of a feeling, to start to grow inside someone.

   Like a small flame starting to grow inside you.

   Anger began to stir inside him as he listened.

   Hope stirred in her heart at the good news.

   Similararise, surface, rise, awaken, build

   Oppositesubside, fade, abate, wane

   Note
9. 9
   verbintransitive

   To be busy and active, moving about and doing things.

   Like a busy beehive full of movement.

   The whole town stirs early on market day.

   People began to stir as the sun rose over the fields.

   Similarbustle, move, rise

   Oppositerest, sleep, idle

   Note
10. 10
    verbintransitive

    To wake up and begin to move after sleep.

    Like slowly waking up from a deep nap.

    She started to stir as the alarm rang.

    The patient stirred hours after the surgery.

    Similarwake, waken, awake, awaken, rouse

    Oppositesleep, slumber

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