stir

1
[ stur ]
See synonyms for: stirstirredstirring on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),stirred, stir·ring.
  1. to move one's hand or an implement continuously or repeatedly through (a liquid or other substance) in order to cool, mix, agitate, dissolve, etc., any or all of the component parts: to stir one's coffee with a spoon.

  2. to set in tremulous, fluttering, or irregular motion: A soft breeze stirred the leaves.

  1. to affect strongly; excite: to stir pity;to stir one's heart.

  2. to incite, instigate, or provoke (usually followed by up): to stir up a people to rebellion.

  3. to move briskly; bestir: to stir oneself.

  4. to move, especially in a slight way: He would not stir a finger to help them.

  5. to rouse from inactivity, quiet, contentment, indifference, etc. (usually followed by up): to stir up his potential.

  6. to bring up for notice or discussion.

  7. Older Use. to disturb; trouble: A slow wave of remembrance stirred her peace.

verb (used without object),stirred, stir·ring.
  1. to move, especially slightly or lightly: Not a leaf stirred.

  2. to move around, especially briskly; be active: Everyone in the house was stirring.

  1. to become active, as from some rousing or quickening impulse.

  2. to be emotionally moved or strongly affected.

  3. to be in circulation, current, or afoot: Is there any news stirring?

noun
  1. the act of stirring or moving.

  2. the sound made by stirring or moving slightly.

  1. a state or occasion of general excitement; commotion: The news created a stir.

  2. a mental impulse, sensation, or feeling: a stir of hope.

  3. a jog, poke, or thrust: He gave the refuse a stir with his foot.

  4. movement, especially brisk and busy movement: There was too much clamor and stir for her.

Idioms about stir

  1. stir the pot. pot1 (def. 26).

Origin of stir

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb stiren, Old English styrian; cognate with German stören “to disturb, interrupt”; akin to Old Norse styrr “disturbance, brawl”; see storm

synonym study For stir

17. See ado.

Other words for stir

Opposites for stir

Other words from stir

  • stir·ra·ble, adjective
  • stirless, adjective
  • stir·less·ly, adverb
  • un·stir·ra·ble, adjective
  • un·stirred, adjective
  • well-stirred, adjective

Words Nearby stir

Other definitions for stir (2 of 2)

stir2
[ stur ]

nounSlang.

Origin of stir

2
First rcorded in 1830–35; argot word of obscure origin; perhaps from Romani sturiben “prison,” staripen “imprison”; compare earlier argot start in same sense

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use stir in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stir (1 of 3)

stir1

/ (stɜː) /


verbstirs, stirring or stirred
  1. to move an implement such as a spoon around in (a liquid) so as to mix up the constituents: she stirred the porridge

  2. to change or cause to change position; disturb or be disturbed: he stirred in his sleep

  1. (intr often foll by from) to venture or depart (from one's usual or preferred place): he won't stir from the fireside

  2. (intr) to be active after a rest; be up and about

  3. (tr) to excite or stimulate, esp emotionally

  4. to move (oneself) briskly or vigorously; exert (oneself)

  5. (tr) to rouse or awaken: to stir someone from sleep; to stir memories

  6. informal (when tr, foll by up) to cause or incite others to cause (trouble, arguments, etc)

  7. stir one's stumps informal to move or become active

noun
  1. the act or an instance of stirring or the state of being stirred

  2. a strong reaction, esp of excitement: his publication caused a stir

  1. a slight movement

  2. NZ informal a noisy party

Origin of stir

1
Old English styrian; related to Middle High German stürn to poke, stir, Norwegian styrja to cause a commotion; see storm, sturgeon

Derived forms of stir

  • stirrable, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for stir (2 of 3)

stir2

/ (stɜː) /


noun
  1. a slang word for prison in stir

Origin of stir

2
C19: perhaps from Romany stariben prison

British Dictionary definitions for Stir. (3 of 3)

Stir.

abbreviation for
  1. Stirlingshire

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with stir

stir

In addition to the idioms beginning with stir

  • stir up
  • stir up a hornets' nest

also see:

  • cause a commotion (stir)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.