stir
1 of 3verb
ˈstər 
stirred; stirring
transitive verb
1
a
: to cause an especially slight movement or change of position of
tied so tightly he could scarcely stir a finger
b
: to disturb the quiet of : agitate —often used with up
the bear stirred up the bees
2
a
: to disturb the relative position of the particles or parts of especially by a continued circular movement
stirred the paint with a paddle
stir the fire
—often used with up stirred up mud from the lake bottom
b
: to mix by or as if by stirring
stir one's coffee
—often used with in stir in the spices
3
: bestir, exert
4
: to bring into notice or debate : raise —often used with up
stir up sensitive issues
5
a
: to rouse to activity : evoke strong feelings in
music that stirs the emotions
b
: to call forth (something, such as a memory) : evoke
stir happy remembrances
c
: provoke
stir a storm of controversy
—often used with up stir up trouble
intransitive verb
1
a
: to make a slight movement
The leaves were barely stirring.
b
: to begin to move (as in rousing)
She heard him stirring in bed.
c
: to shift to another location : budge
haven't stirred since I arrived
2
: to begin to be active
The factory stirred to life.
3
: to be active or busy
Not a creature was stirring …
Clement Moore
Clement Moore4
: to pass an implement through a substance with a circular movement
washed the spoon she was stirring with
5
: to be able to be stirred
Add water until the mixture stirs easily.
stirrer noun
stir
2 of 3noun (1)
1
a
: a state of disturbance, agitation, or brisk activity
b
: widespread notice and discussion : impression
the book caused quite a stir
2
: a slight movement
3
: a stirring movement
stir
3 of 3noun (2)
slang
: prison
Synonyms
Verb
- agitate
- churn
- swirl
- wash
- whirl
Noun (1)
- ado
- alarums and excursions
- ballyhoo
- blather
- bluster
- bobbery
- bother
- bustle
- clatter
- clutter [chiefly dialect]
- coil
- commotion
- corroboree [Australian]
- disturbance
- do [chiefly dialect]
- foofaraw
- fun
- furor
- furore
- fuss
- helter-skelter
- hoo-ha
- hoo-hah
- hoopla
- hubble-bubble
- hubbub
- hullabaloo
- hurly
- hurly-burly
- hurricane
- hurry
- hurry-scurry
- hurry-skurry
- kerfuffle [chiefly British]
- moil
- pandemonium
- pother
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
- rumpus
- shindy
- splore [Scottish]
- squall
- stew
- storm
- to-do
- tumult
- turmoil
- uproar
- welter
- whirl
- williwaw
- zoo
Noun (2)
- bastille
- big house [slang]
- bridewell
- brig
- calaboose
- can
- clink [slang]
- cooler
- coop
- guardroom
- hock
- hold
- hoosegow
- jail
- jailhouse
- joint [slang]
- jug
- lockup
- nick [British slang]
- pen
- penitentiary
- pokey [slang]
- prison
- quod [British slang]
- slam
- slammer
- stockade
- tolbooth [Scottish]
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The cake batter must be stirred for 10 minutes. Stir one cup of sugar into the batter. She was stirred from her sleep by the noise. The breeze stirred the leaves on the tree. We could see people stirring inside the shop. A good book can stir the imagination. See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Old English styrian; akin to Old High German stōren to scatter
Noun (2)
origin unknown
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (2)
1851, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing stir
Kids Definition
stir 1 of 2
verb
ˈstər
stirred; stirring
1
: to make or cause to make a usually slight movement or change of position
She heard the child stir in bed.
The breeze stirred the tree's leaves.
2
: to make active
A good book can stir the imagination.
3
: to mix, dissolve, or move about by making a circular movement in
He stirred sugar into his coffee.
Stir the gravy so it doesn't burn.
4
: to cause to arise or take place
Don't stir up trouble.
stir
2 of 2noun
1
: a state of upset or activity
A stir of excitement swept through the watching animals … Robert Lawson, Rabbit Hill
Robert Lawson, Rabbit HillThe whole town is in a stir.
2
: a slight movement
We heard the stir of leaves in the breeze.
3
: the act of making circular movements in
Give the sauce a stir.
stirred
verb
1
as in swirled
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly the recipe says to stir the mixture carefully until it's properly blended Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- swirled
- washed
- shook
- agitated
- churned
- whipped
- whirled
- whisked
- reeled
- beat
- paddled
- wheeled
2
as in shifted
to change one's position the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet Synonyms & Similar Words
- shifted
- moved
- twitched
- squirmed
- roused
- fidgeted
- budged
- tossed
- wiggled
- jiggled
- writhed
- locomoted
- fiddled
- wriggled
- squiggled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- froze
- stilled
- remained
- stayed
- stabilized
- hung around
- tarried
- stuck around
3
as in provoked
to rouse to strong feeling or action news coverage of the fire stirred many to send donations to a fund for the families who had lost their homes Synonyms & Similar Words
- provoked
- encouraged
- stimulated
- aroused
- sparked
- inspired
- incited
- moved
- piqued
- impassioned
- triggered
- instigated
- induced
- ignited
- excited
- motivated
- drove
- kindled
- fanned
- galvanized
- fomented
- activated
- inflamed
- quickened
- angered
- motived
- built a fire under
- energized
- enflamed
- enraged
- vitalized
- set off
- fired (up)
- raised
- bothered
- animated
- revved (up)
- fermented
- maddened
- upset
- teased
- taunted
- got
- abetted
- vexed
- pumped up
- aggravated
- jeered
- annoyed
- irritated
- exasperated
- galled
- whipped (up)
- keyed (up)
- vext
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- calmed
- soothed
- subdued
- appeased
- mollified
- placated
- tranquillized
- pacified
- tranquilized