stirred; stirring
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 upstirred up mud from the lake bottom
b
: to mix by or as if by stirring
stir one's coffee
—often used with instir in the spices
4
: to bring into notice or debate : raise
—often used with up
stir up sensitive issues
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
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
Synonyms
Verb
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)
Examples of stir in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the WebGary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Past loves are also stirred at this time so don’t be surprised if someone gets back in touch.
—Debbie Frank, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
Also the darkness can confuse animals – nocturnal creatures stir, and bird and insects fall silent.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
In a medium bowl stir together cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, crab meat, green onions, powdered sugar, salt, and garlic powder until combined.
—Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2024
More than 31 million people will be able to see the eclipse outside their homes, as the air suddenly cools, birds fall silent and nocturnal animals begin to stir.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Our little bush camp is a hive of activity as Mike's team pitches tents and a petite cook named Pie stirs a cauldron of chicken curry over a campfire.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick, syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, 5 to 10 minutes; set aside.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024
Microwave chocolate on high in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until fully melted and smooth, about 1 minute total.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Heather Chen, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Over high heat, bring to rolling boil, one that cannot be stirred down, stir-ring constantly.
—Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
Shady Rays: Seeing a Bright Future in a Thriving Market
Shady Rays proves that sunglasses companies don’t have to be all alike to make a stir — and a profit.
—Kyle Russell, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
My contentious uncle, my father’s oldest brother, caused a stir.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024
While most brands benefit from a good stir or a quick whip in a mixer, others are hopelessly greasy or sticky.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
The company, which started in 2015 and sells itself as a meal kit service, is closer to an online grocery store than a place that’s going to send you half an onion wrapped in plastic and a tiny baggy of cumin to make some so-so tacos or a random stir fry.
—Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024
At one point during every concert, the 34-year-old pop star rotates through her extensive catalogue for songs that didn't make the set list—and her recent choices were bound to cause a stir amongst fans.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 25 Feb. 2024
Top with sparkling wine, give it a gentle stir and add the garnish.
—Kevin Gavagan, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
Monday’s celestial ballet will be very similar to the dramatic partial eclipse that stirred joy across the county in August 2017.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Past loves are also stirred at this time so don’t be surprised if someone gets back in touch.
—Debbie Frank, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
Also the darkness can confuse animals – nocturnal creatures stir, and bird and insects fall silent.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
In a medium bowl stir together cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, crab meat, green onions, powdered sugar, salt, and garlic powder until combined.
—Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2024
More than 31 million people will be able to see the eclipse outside their homes, as the air suddenly cools, birds fall silent and nocturnal animals begin to stir.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Our little bush camp is a hive of activity as Mike's team pitches tents and a petite cook named Pie stirs a cauldron of chicken curry over a campfire.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick, syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, 5 to 10 minutes; set aside.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024
Microwave chocolate on high in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until fully melted and smooth, about 1 minute total.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Noun
Complaints were made to the state religious department, media reports said, and the scandal caused a national stir – drawing scorn from conservative politicians and prompting public apologies from the celebrities.
—Heather Chen, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Over high heat, bring to rolling boil, one that cannot be stirred down, stir-ring constantly.
—Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
Shady Rays: Seeing a Bright Future in a Thriving Market
Shady Rays proves that sunglasses companies don’t have to be all alike to make a stir — and a profit.
—Kyle Russell, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
My contentious uncle, my father’s oldest brother, caused a stir.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024
While most brands benefit from a good stir or a quick whip in a mixer, others are hopelessly greasy or sticky.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
The company, which started in 2015 and sells itself as a meal kit service, is closer to an online grocery store than a place that’s going to send you half an onion wrapped in plastic and a tiny baggy of cumin to make some so-so tacos or a random stir fry.
—Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024
At one point during every concert, the 34-year-old pop star rotates through her extensive catalogue for songs that didn't make the set list—and her recent choices were bound to cause a stir amongst fans.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 25 Feb. 2024
Top with sparkling wine, give it a gentle stir and add the garnish.
—Kevin Gavagan, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stir.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near stir
Cite this Entry
“Stir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stir. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stir
1 of 2 verb
stirred; stirring
1
a
: to make or cause to make an especially small movement or change of position
the leaves were barely stirring
b
: to disturb the quiet of : agitate
the bear stirred up the bees
2
: to mix, dissolve, or make especially by a continued circular movement
stir the pudding
3
4
: to be active or busy
not a creature was stirring
stirrer
noun
stir
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a state of disturbance, upset, or action
b
: widespread notice and discussion : impression
2
: a small movement
3
: a stirring movement
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