ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stimulate

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈstɪmjəˌɫeɪt// UK //stˈɪmjʊlˌeɪt// stim·u·late General-service

v. to make something more active or to encourage it to grow. You use this when you want to describe starting a process or making someone feel more interested.

v. to encourage activity, growth, or development in something; to excite a physiological or psychological response. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

The new tax cuts aim to stimulate the economy.

CONTEXTUAL

Teachers often use puzzles and games to stimulate the students' interest in mathematics.

COMPLEX

The central bank lowered interest rates in an attempt to stimulate consumer spending and prevent the economy from entering a prolonged period of stagnation.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

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”).

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. It is frequently used in economic, biological, and educational contexts.

Pitfall

The coffee stimulated to meThe coffee stimulated meStimulate is a transitive verb and takes a direct object without the preposition 'to'.

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