something that rouses or incites to action or increased action; incentive
2. Physiology and Psychology
any action or agent that causes or changes an activity in an organism, organ, orpart, as something that excites an end organ, starts a nerve impulse, activates a muscle, etc.
Word origin
L, a goad, sting, torment, pang, spur, incentive: see style
COBUILD Collocations
stimulus
additional stimulus
further stimulus
Examples of 'stimulus' in a sentence
stimulus
We should gradually withdraw some of the monetary stimulus.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The coil was placed over the head and attached to an electrical stimulus on the hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They also face the danger of a lack of fresh external intellectual stimulus.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It has said it wants to boost growth through tax cuts and economic stimulus measures.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They fear that this additional stimulus will cause a bubble.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This overall stimulus to the economy will result in more inward investment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Further stimulus measures might be on the cards.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It still has extensive means of supporting the economy through fiscal stimulus.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It can be a huge stimulus to the economy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Halfway measures did not provide the stimulus the economy needed.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
He reacts to external stimuli but for now can only answer a familiar voice by moving his eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As soon as a stimulus appears, the subconscious switches into gear.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)
Not that the president will try to rein in stimulus spending: more is in the pipeline.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We are simultaneously stifling growth with regulation of banks and risking financial stability with what we are doing with monetary and fiscal stimulus.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There was an unpleasant sensation touching him, like an electrical stimulus.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They may want to provide monetary stimulus to head off deflation, but their options are limited.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their brains are more active, so external stimuli can quickly overwhelm them.
Christianity Today (2000)
Investor confidence was lifted by hopes of further European economic stimulus measures.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Gilts rallied before likely news of further monetary stimulus expected from America tomorrow.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
No doubt there will be strictly targeted stimulus measures, but a second splurge now seems off the agenda.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
No longer can the administration claim that America is only one of many debtor nations willing to increase stimulus spending.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In addition, electrical stimuli can be applied to the heart and the resulting wave of activity in heart muscle can be followed.
Petch, Dr Michael BMA Family Doctor Guide - Heart Disease (1989)
Uncertainty about America's budget and stimulus spending still weighed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is not that damage is still being done, but that the original stimulus has caused a change in the nervous system with long-term results.
Lewith, George & Horn, Sandra Drug-Free Pain Relief (1987)
In other languages
stimulus
British English: stimulus NOUN
A stimulus is something that encourages activity in people or things.
Interest rates could fall soon and be a stimulus to the economy.
American English: stimulus
Brazilian Portuguese: estímulo
Chinese: 刺激物
European Spanish: estímulo
French: stimulation
German: Anreiz
Italian: incentivo
Japanese: 刺激
Korean: 자극제
European Portuguese: estímulo
Latin American Spanish: estímulo
Chinese translation of 'stimulus'
stimulus
(ˈstɪmjuləs)
Word forms:plstimuli (ˈstɪmjulaɪ)
n
(c/u) (= incentive) 刺激 (cìjī)
(c) (Bio, Psych) 刺激因素 (cìjī yīnsù) (个(個), gè)
(noun)
Definition
something that acts as an incentive to (someone)
Falling interest rates could be a stimulus to the economy.
Synonyms
incentive
There is little incentive to adopt such measures.
spur
Redundancy is the spur for many to embark on new careers.
encouragement
She had needed no encouragement to accept the invitation.
impetus
She needed a new impetus for her talent.
provocation
The soldiers fired without provocation.
inducement
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
goad
His distrust only acted as a goad to me to prove him wrong.
incitement
an incitement to rioting
fillip
The news gave a tremendous fillip to businesses.
shot in the arm (informal)
clarion call
geeing-up
Additional synonyms
in the sense of encouragement
She had needed no encouragement to accept the invitation.
Synonyms
urging,
prompting,
stimulus,
persuasion,
coaxing,
egging on,
incitement
in the sense of fillip
Definition
something that adds stimulation or enjoyment
The news gave a tremendous fillip to businesses.
Synonyms
boost,
push,
spur,
spice,
incentive,
stimulus,
prod,
zest,
goad
in the sense of goad
Definition
something that provokes someone to take some kind of action
His distrust only acted as a goad to me to prove him wrong.
Synonyms
incentive,
urge,
spur,
motivation,
pressure,
stimulus,
stimulation,
impetus,
incitement
Synonyms of 'stimulus'
stimulus
Explore 'stimulus' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of impetus
Definition
an incentive or impulse
She needed a new impetus for her talent.
Synonyms
incentive,
push,
spur,
motivation,
impulse,
stimulus,
catalyst,
goad,
impulsion
in the sense of incitement
an incitement to rioting
Synonyms
provocation,
prompting,
encouragement,
spur,
motive,
motivation,
impulse,
stimulus,
impetus,
agitation,
inducement,
goad,
instigation,
clarion call
in the sense of inducement
Definition
something that encourages someone to do something
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
Synonyms
incentive,
motive,
cause,
influence,
reward,
come-on (informal),
spur,
consideration,
attraction,
lure,
bait,
carrot (informal),
encouragement,
impulse,
stimulus,
incitement,
clarion call
in the sense of provocation
Definition
the act of provoking or inciting
The soldiers fired without provocation.
Synonyms
cause,
reason,
grounds,
motivation,
justification,
stimulus,
inducement,
incitement,
instigation,
casus belli
in the sense of spur
Definition
an incentive to get something done
Redundancy is the spur for many to embark on new careers.