Word
stimulate
Phoneticsstim·u·late, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɪmjəˌɫeɪt/
UK/stˈɪmjʊlˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to encourage growth or activity
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make something happen or develop more quickly, especially an economy or a process.
v. to encourage or promote the development of or increased activity in a system or process.
“The government lowered interest rates to stimulate the economy and encourage spending.”
“The central bank implemented several aggressive measures intended to stimulate domestic investment after a prolonged period of stagnation.”
Usage
Often used with abstract nouns like 'economy', 'growth', or 'demand'.
Antonyms
02to excite interest or thinking
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make someone feel interested or excited about something, or to make their brain more active.
v. to arouse interest, curiosity, or intellectual engagement in a person.
“The teacher used colourful pictures to stimulate the children's imagination.”
“The professor's lecture was designed to stimulate critical thinking rather than simply provide a list of facts for memorisation.”
Antonyms
03biological response
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
v. to make a part of the body or a plant start working or react to something.
v. to arouse an organism or a specific body part to functional activity through a stimulus.
“Bright light can stimulate the eyes and make it hard to fall asleep.”
“The hormone is known to stimulate the production of red blood cells in response to low oxygen levels in the environment.”
Usage
Frequently used in medical and biological contexts with 'cells', 'nerves', or 'organs'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “stimulate” in context.
Verb
01. stimulate activity
“The government lowered interest rates to stimulate economic activity across the country.”
verb + noun
02. stimulate development
“The new grant is designed to stimulate the development of sustainable energy technologies.”
verb + noun
03. stimulate growth
“Tax cuts were introduced in an effort to stimulate growth in the small business sector.”
verb + noun
04. stimulate interest
“The colorful posters were intended to stimulate interest in the upcoming science fair.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“The experiments showed that the device could stimulate nerve cells using both blue and red light.” “Other products available today stimulate immune responses at the expense of growth and development.” Etymology
Etymology tree Latin stimulus Latin stimulo Latin stimulatusbor. English stimulate Borrowed from Latin stimulātus, perfect passive participle of stimulō (“to urge, goad on”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin stimulus (“a sting or prick; a stimulus, goad”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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