English Reference

Word

spurred

US/ˈspɝd/

UK/spˈɜːd/

Definition

v. to encourage someone to do something or to make a process happen faster. It is like giving someone a little push to get them moving.

v. to incite or stimulate an action or a person into activity. Often used in the past tense to describe a sudden increase in motivation or economic growth.

Examples

“The low prices spurred many people to buy new cars.”

“The government's new tax breaks spurred significant investment in the local tech sector over the last fiscal year.”

“While the initial discovery was accidental, it spurred a decade of intensive research that eventually led to a breakthrough in renewable energy storage.”

Examples

simple

“The low prices spurred many people to buy new cars.”

contextual

“The government's new tax breaks spurred significant investment in the local tech sector over the last fiscal year.”

complex

“While the initial discovery was accidental, it spurred a decade of intensive research that eventually led to a breakthrough in renewable energy storage.”

Usage

The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object, often followed by an infinitive phrase ('spurred someone to do something').

Real-World Examples

“The event spurred him to move to Washington , and get involved in foreign policy.”
The Guardian · 11 Sept 2026
“And the whole time she is spurred on by the memory of her own dance teacher telling her she was “special” as a child.”
The Guardian · 9 Sept 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference