stir

stir — verb

1. to rotate a spoon or similar tool through a liquid or soft substance so that all

1.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to rotate a spoon or similar tool through a liquid or soft substance so that all the separate parts become evenly spread throughout

Example

Beatriz stirred the soup with a wooden spoon until the vegetables were evenly mixed.

stir + object + with + tool

Feng slowly added milk to his coffee while stirring gently.

Common collocations
  • stir gently
  • stir well
  • stir constantly
  • stir with a spoon
  • stir into
Synonyms
  • mix

    broader — mix can involve shaking, folding, or blending without the circular tool motion implied by stir

  • whisk

    faster, more vigorous action using a whisk tool, often to incorporate air

Grammar Patterns

stir + object + with + tool

stir + object + into + mixture

Common Mistakes

I stirred the soup hardly.
I stirred the soup vigorously / well.
'hardly' means 'almost not'; use 'hard' or 'well' instead.

2. to shift only a tiny amount while staying in one place, or to make another thing

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to shift only a tiny amount while staying in one place, or to make another thing shift just a bit

Example

The baby stirred in her sleep but stayed fast asleep.

stir in sleep — slight movement without waking

A light breeze stirred the curtains by the open window.

Common collocations
  • barely stir
  • not stir
  • stir in sleep
  • wind stirs
  • stir slightly
Synonyms
  • move

    more general; stir implies a very slight, often involuntary movement

  • shift

    implies a change of position rather than just a slight movement in place

Antonyms
  • freeze

    to stay completely still, the opposite of any movement

Grammar Patterns

stir (intransitive) — subject moves slightly

stir + object — subject causes object to move slightly

Usage Note

Commonly used in negative constructions ('not stir' or 'barely stir') to emphasize that someone or something remained very still. Can also be used of inanimate objects moved by air or water.

Common Mistakes

I stirred my hand.
I moved my hand slightly.
'stir' is used for whole-body movement or atmospheric movement, not for moving a single limb like an arm or hand.

3. to cause someone to feel a powerful emotion such as excitement, anger, sadness,

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to cause someone to feel a powerful emotion such as excitement, anger, sadness, or admiration, often in response to something they see, hear, or experience

Example

The old photograph stirred memories of summers spent at her grandmother's house.

stir memories of [something]

The speaker's words stirred deep anger in the crowd gathered outside the town hall.

stir [emotion] in [person/group]

Common collocations
  • stir emotions
  • stir memories
  • stir anger
  • stir excitement
  • stir to tears
  • deeply stirred
  • stir feelings
Synonyms
  • arouse

    more formal; often used for sexual or strong emotional awakening

  • evoke

    less intense; focuses on bringing forth memories or feelings rather than strong emotion

  • provoke

    often negative; implies causing anger or annoyance deliberately

Antonyms
  • calm

    to reduce emotional intensity, opposite of stirring feelings

Grammar Patterns

stir + object (person) — cause strong emotion

stir + emotion + in + person

Usage Note

Commonly used in the passive voice ('be stirred by') or with the emotion as the direct object ('stir anger', 'stir excitement'). The pattern 'stir + person + to + emotional response' (e.g., 'stir to tears') is a fixed collocation.

Common Mistakes

The movie stirred me happy.
The movie stirred feelings of happiness in me.
'stir' takes an emotion or response as object, not a bare adjective.

4. to deliberately create disagreement, arguments, or problems among a group of peo

4.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to deliberately create disagreement, arguments, or problems among a group of people, often by saying things that upset or divide them

Example

Caleb stirred trouble among his colleagues by spreading rumors about the new manager.

stir trouble among [group]

The politician was accused of stirring racial hatred with his speech.

stir [negative emotion: hatred / resentment / anger]

Common collocations
  • stir trouble
  • stir up
  • stir hatred
  • stir resentment
  • stir conflict
  • stir drama
Synonyms
  • incite

    more formal and stronger; often used in legal contexts for urging violent action

  • provoke

    can be used with both people and reactions, while 'stir' here focuses on the social result

Antonyms
  • quell

    to stop or prevent trouble, the opposite of causing it

Grammar Patterns

stir + trouble / conflict / resentment

stir up — phrasal variant with same meaning

Usage Note

Often used with 'up' as a phrasal verb ('stir up trouble'). The object is typically a negative social emotion (trouble, hatred, resentment, conflict, drama). The subject is usually a person or media source acting deliberately.

Common Mistakes

She stirred happiness among the team.
She stirred resentment / conflict among the team.
This sense carries a negative meaning; use sense 3 for positive emotions.

5. to start moving after being still or asleep, or to begin doing something after a

5.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to start moving after being still or asleep, or to begin doing something after a period of inactivity

Example

Christopher finally stirred at ten o'clock and stumbled into the kitchen.

stir + time — waking up after sleeping in

The volunteers stirred into action as soon as the news of the flood reached them.

stir into action — begin to act quickly

Common collocations
  • stir into action
  • stir oneself
  • stir to life
  • finally stir
  • stir from sleep
Synonyms
  • rouse

    more formal; can be transitive ('rouse someone') unlike 'stir' in this sense

  • bestir

    archaic or literary; 'bestir oneself' is the reflexive form of this sense

Grammar Patterns

stir (intransitive) — person begins to move or act

stir oneself — reflexive

Usage Note

Often used reflexively ('stir oneself') to indicate making an effort to become active. The phrase 'stir into action' is a common fixed collocation for groups responding to a situation.

Common Mistakes

I stirred from bed at 7 a.m.
I stirred at 7 a.m. and got out of bed.
'stir' describes the first movement, not the full action of getting up.

6. if a feeling or emotion slowly begins to develop and become noticeable inside yo

6.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

if a feeling or emotion slowly begins to develop and become noticeable inside you, growing from a faint beginning into a stronger presence

Example

A strange curiosity stirred within Faisal as he opened the old wooden chest.

[emotion] stirs within [person]

Deep inside the young nurse, a quiet sense of purpose began to stir.

Common collocations
  • stir within
  • stir in
  • hope stirs
  • curiosity stirs
  • anger stirs
Synonyms
  • rise

    more general; implies the feeling becomes stronger without the subtle, gradual onset that 'stir' suggests

  • awaken

    suggests the feeling was completely absent before, like waking from sleep

Antonyms
  • subside

    when a feeling grows weaker and disappears, the opposite of stirring

Grammar Patterns

emotion + stirs (in/within + person) — emotion begins to develop

Usage Note

The preposition 'within' sounds more literary than 'in'. This sense is almost always used with abstract emotion nouns (hope, curiosity, anger, sadness) as the subject, not with people.

Common Mistakes

Anger stirred him.
Anger stirred within him.
The emotion is the subject; people are the location of the feeling, not the object being stirred.
Phrasal verbs

stir up

phrasal verb

To cause trouble or strong feelings on purpose.

The politician's comments stirred up anger among the crowd.

Why did you stir up that old argument again?

Idioms

stir the blood

idiom

To make someone feel very excited or enthusiastic.

The thrilling movie scene stirred the blood of every viewer.

Did the coach's speech stir your blood before the game?

stir your stumps

idiom

To start moving or doing something more quickly.

Come on, stir your stumps or we'll miss the bus.

Maya stirred her stumps and finished the report before noon.

stir — noun

Word family

  • stirring
    adjectiveB2
  • stirring
    nounC1
  • stirrer
    nounC1
  • unstirred
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/3

All four verbs describe causing a reaction, but they differ in intensity and intention. 'Stir' (verb sense 3) suggests a gradual, often gentle awakening of emotion — like a memory stirred by an old song. 'Arouse' is more formal and can carry stronger connotations, including sexual arousal, and often implies waking something that was dormant. 'Evoke' focuses on bringing forth memories or associations rather than strong feelings; you evoke an image of the past but stir anger about injustice. 'Provoke' is more deliberate and often negative — provoking someone means you intend to get a reaction, usually of irritation or conflict. For example: the photograph stirred happy memories (gentle, unintended); the politician's remark provoked outrage (deliberate, sharp); the smell evoked a sense of childhood (associative, not emotional strength). Choose 'stir' for warm, emotional responses; 'evoke' for mental images; 'provoke' for angry reactions; and 'arouse' for formal or intense awakening.

arouse ↗evoke ↗provoke ↗stir ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • give something a stir
  • cause a stir
  • stir into action
  • stir up trouble

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

The word 'stir' comes from Old English 'styrian', meaning to move, agitate, or rouse. It is related to Old High German 'stōren' (to scatter, destroy) and Dutch 'storen' (to disturb). The original sense was purely about physical movement — making something change position. By the 14th century, it had developed the metaphorical meaning of rousing emotions or causing mental disturbance. The cooking sense (mixing with a spoon) was already present in Old English, showing just how old the basic kitchen action is. The noun sense of 'public excitement' comes from the 18th century, and the political 'protest/demonstration' meaning developed in the mid-20th century from the idea of people being 'stirred' into action.