Meanings
stir1
present singular third person stirs · participle present stirring · participle past stirred · past stirred · first person past singular stirred · archaic present second person singular stirrest · past second person singular stirred · archaic past second person singular stirredst · present singular third person stirs · archaic present singular third person stirreth · past singular third person stirred · past plural stirred · past subjunctive stirred · participle present stirring · participle past stirred
- transitiveTo disturb the relative position of the particles (of a liquid or similar) by passing an object through it.
She stirred the pudding with a spoon.
2 more examples
He stirred his coffee so the sugar wouldn't stay at the bottom.
My minde is troubled, like a Fountaine stir'd, / And I my selfe see not the bottome of it.
1602, William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, act III, scene 3Synonyms: agitate
- transitiveTo disturb the content of (a container) by passing an object through it.
Would you please stir this pot so that the chocolate doesn't burn?
- transitiveTo emotionally affect; to touch, to move.
And what delights can equal those That stir the spirit’s inner deeps, When one that loves but knows not, reaps A truth from one that loves and knows?
1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XLI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 64 - transitiveTo incite to action.
An Ate, stirring him to bloud and strife […]
c. 1595, William Shakespeare, The Life and Death of King John, act I, scene 21 more example
The Soldiers love her Brother’s Memory; / And for her sake some Mutiny will stir.
c. 1670, John Dryden, Tyrannick Love, or the Royal Martyr, III.1Synonyms: arouse, instigate, prompt, excite, abet, actuate, goose, fuel
- transitiveTo bring into debate; to agitate.
Preserue the rights of thy place, but stirre not questions of Iurisdiction : and rather assume thy right in silence, and de facto, then voice it with claimes, and challenges.
1613, Francis Bacon, chapter 8, in The Essaies, London - obsoletetransitiveTo disturb, to disrupt.
They ſay he is the King of Perſea. But if he dare attempt to ſtir your ſiege, Twere requiſite he ſhould be ten times more, For all fleſh quakes at your magnificence.
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene i - datedtransitiveTo change the place of in any manner; to move.
'But the bolts can't be stirred, dear,' protested Myra. 'I've tried myself until my poor thumbs are nearly dislocated. […]'
1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries1 more example
[…] notwithstanding the swelling of my Foot, so that I had never yet in five days been able to stir it, but as it was lifted.
1677, Sir William Temple, “An Essay upon the Cure of Gout by Moxa”, in Miscellanea. The First Part, London, published 1705, page 209 - intransitiveTo begin to move, especially gently, from a still or unmoving position.
I had not strength to stir or strive, / But felt that I was still alive— […]
1816, Byron, The Prisoner of Chillon1 more example
And especially if they happen to have any superior character or possessions in this world, they fancy they have a right to talk freely upon everything that stirs or appears[…]
1741, Isaac Watts, The Improvement of the Mind - intransitiveOf a feeling or emotion: to rise, begin to be felt.
That night he was almost too happy to sleep, and so much love stirred in his little sawdust heart that it almost burst.
1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit1 more example
Though as I said it, glibly, reassuringly, I knew that I lied, and a little snake of guilt stirred and began to uncoil slightly, guilt and its constant companion deceit.
1993, Susan Hill, Mrs de Winter, published 1999, page 54 - intransitiveTo be in motion; to be active or bustling; to exert or busy oneself.
All are not fit with them to stir and toil.
1818, Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, canto III, stanza LXIX1 more example
Meanwhile, the friends of the unfortunate exile, far from resenting his unjust suspicions, were stirring anxiously in his behalf.
1850, Charles Merivale, A History of the Romans under the Empire, volume 1 - intransitiveTo rise from sleep or unconsciousness.
1 more example
“Mid-Lent, and the Enemy grins,” remarked Selwyn as he started for church with Nina and the children. Austin, knee-deep in a dozen Sunday supplements, refused to stir; poor little Eileen was now convalescent from grippe, but still unsteady on her legs; her maid had taken the grippe, and now moaned all day: “Mon dieu! Mon dieu! Che fais mourir!”
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IV, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLCSynonyms: arise, get up, rouse, abraid, arise, arouse, awake, awaken
plural stirs
- countableuncountableagitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements.
1668, John Denham, Of Prudence (poem). Why all these words, this clamour, and this stir?
3 more examples
Consider, after so much stir about genus and species, how few words we have yet settled definitions of.
1693, [John Locke], “§107”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLCMeantime, the train went on to Brighton without further incident. No small stir was caused by its arrival with No. 61 at its head, resplendent with "East London Line Special" head boards, which at once caught the eye of William Stroudley, who was observing the traffic working from his office window.
1951 May, J. Pelham Maitland, “A Memorable Run by a Brighton "Terrier"”, in Railway Magazine, page 347When the long, hot journey drew to its end and the train slowed down for the last time, there was a stir in Jessamy’s carriage. People began to shake crumbs from their laps and tidy themselves up a little.
1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 7 - countableuncountablePublic disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder; seditious uproar.
Being advertised of some stirs raised by his unnatural sons in England.
1612, Sir John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued - countableuncountableAgitation of thoughts; conflicting passions.
stir2
plural stirs
- countableslanguncountableJail; prison.
He's going to be spending maybe ten years in stir.
2 more examples
The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.
1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter I, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 01Sing Sing was a tough joint in those days, one of the five worst stirs in the United States.
1928, Jack Callahan, Man's Grim Justice: My Life Outside the Law, page 42
STIR3
plural STIRs
- abbreviationacronymbusinessAcronym of short-term interest rate, often referring to a short-term interest rate future or option.
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo disturb the relative position of the particles (of a liquid or similar) by passing an object through it.
verbTo incite to action.
verbTo rise from sleep or unconsciousness.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna prominent or sensational but short-lived news event
verbstir the feelings, emotions, or peace of
verbsummon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
stir · verb, noun
- Proto-Indo-European*(s)twerH-
- Proto-Indo-European*(s)twr̥H-yé-ti?
- Proto-Germanic*sturjaną
- Proto-West Germanic*sturjan
- Old Englishstyrian
- Middle Englishstiren
- Englishstir
From Middle English stiren, sturien, steren, from Old English styrian (“to be in motion, move, agitate, stir, disturb, trouble”), from Proto-Germanic *sturiz (“turmoil, noise, confusion”), related to Proto-West Germanic *staurijan (“to destroy, disturb”). Cognate with Old Norse styrr (“turmoil, noise, confusion”), German stören (“to disturb”), Dutch storen (“to disturb”).
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Germanic
Full word history & related roots →stir · noun
- Sanskritआतिष्ठति“stand or remain by”
- Romanistariben“prison”
- Englishstir
From Romani stariben (“prison”), nominalisation of (a)star (“seize”), causative of ast (“remain”), probably from Sanskrit आतिष्ठति (ātiṣṭhati, “stand or remain by”), from तिष्ठति (tiṣṭhati, “stand”).
More words from Romani, Sanskrit
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans roer
- roerto disturb the contents of
Arabic تَحَرَّكَ
- تَحَرَّكَ (taḥarraka)to change the place of in any manner; to move
Bulgarian ка́рам, нака́рам
- ка́рам (káram)to incite to action
- нака́рам (nakáram)to incite to action
- предизви́кам (predizvíkam)to incite to action
- разбъ́рквам (razbắrkvam)to disturb the contents of
- ме́стя (méstja)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- мъ́рдам (mắrdam)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- дви́жа (dvíža)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- дви́жа се (dvíža se)to be active or bustling
- ста́вам (stávam)to rise from sleep or unconsciousness
- бъ́ркам (bắrkam)to disturb the relative position of the particles of
- разбъ́ркам (razbắrkam)to disturb the relative position of the particles of
- ме́шам (méšam)to disturb the relative position of the particles of
- движение (dviženie)The act or result of stirring
- разместване (razmestvane)The act or result of stirring
- суматоха (sumatoha)Public disturbance or commotion
- вълнение (vălnenie)Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions
Catalan remoure, moure
- remoureto disturb the contents of
- moureto change the place of in any manner; to move
- bellugarto change the place of in any manner; to move
- remoureto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- regirarto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- remenarto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- avalotThe act or result of stirring
- gatzaraThe act or result of stirring
- cridòriaThe act or result of stirring
- esvalotThe act or result of stirring
- aldarullThe act or result of stirring
- rebomboriThe act or result of stirring
- avalotPublic disturbance or commotion
- cridòriaPublic disturbance or commotion
- esvalotPublic disturbance or commotion
- rebomboriPublic disturbance or commotion
Chinese Mandarin 移動 /移动, 攪拌 /搅拌
- 移動 /移动 (yídòng)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- 攪拌 /搅拌 (jiǎobàn)to disturb the relative position of the particles of
- 攪 /搅 (jiǎo)to disturb the relative position of the particles of
Czech míchat
- míchatto disturb the contents of
Dutch roeren, roeren
- roerento disturb the contents of
- roerento disturb the relative position of the particles of
Esperanto kirli, ekmoviĝi
- kirlito disturb the contents of
- ekmoviĝito begin to move, especially gently
Finnish yllyttää, kiihottaa
- yllyttääto incite to action
- kiihottaato incite to action
- herättääto bring into debate; to agitate
- esittääto bring into debate; to agitate
- hämmentääto disturb the contents of
- sekoittaato disturb the contents of
- liikuttaato change the place of in any manner; to move
- liikauttaato change the place of in any manner; to move
- liikahtaato begin to move, especially gently
- liikahdellato begin to move, especially gently
- hievahtaato begin to move, especially gently
- hievahdellato begin to move, especially gently
French remuer, touiller
- remuerto disturb the contents of
- touillerto disturb the contents of
- bougerto change the place of in any manner; to move
- agiterto be active or bustling
- remuerto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- tumulteAgitation of thoughts; conflicting passions
German anstacheln, hervorrufen
- anstachelnto incite to action
- hervorrufento bring into debate; to agitate
- umrührento disturb the contents of
- (sich) bewegento change the place of in any manner; to move
- (sich) regento be active or bustling
- rührento disturb the relative position of the particles of
- ErregungThe act or result of stirring
- AufruhrPublic disturbance or commotion
- ErregungAgitation of thoughts; conflicting passions
Hungarian kelt, kivált
- keltto incite to action
- kiváltto incite to action
- késztetto incite to action
- ébresztto incite to action
- gyújtto incite to action
- indítto incite to action
- bolygatto bring into debate; to agitate
- felbolygatto bring into debate; to agitate
- felkavarto bring into debate; to agitate
- keverto disturb the contents of
- kevergetto disturb the contents of
- mozgatto change the place of in any manner; to move
Icelandic hræra
- hrærato disturb the relative position of the particles of
Irish corraigh, suaitheadh
- corraighto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- suaitheadhThe act or result of stirring
- corraíThe act or result of stirring
- corraíPublic disturbance or commotion
Italian agitare, muovere
- agitareto disturb the contents of
- muovereto change the place of in any manner; to move
- mescolareto disturb the relative position of the particles of
Japanese かき立てる, 扇動する
- かき立てる (kakitateru)to incite to action
- 扇動する (sendō suru)to bring into debate; to agitate
- 動かす (ugokasu)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- 動く (ugoku)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- 動き回る (ugoki-mawaru)to be active or bustling
- 掻き混ぜる (kakimazeru)to disturb the relative position of the particles of
- 攪拌する (kakuhan suru)to disturb the relative position of the particles of
- 撹拌 (kakuhan)The act or result of stirring
- 騒動 (sōdō)Public disturbance or commotion
- 騒動 (sōdō)Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions
Korean 휘젓다
- 휘젓다 (hwijeotda)to disturb the relative position of the particles of
Latin commoveō, commoveō
- commoveōto incite to action
- commoveōto change the place of in any manner; to move
- turbellaePublic disturbance or commotion
Latvian maisīt
- maisītto disturb the relative position of the particles of
Māori makitohene, whakatari
- makitoheneto incite to action
- whakatarito bring into debate; to agitate
- whakataritarito bring into debate; to agitate
- tairangito disturb the contents of
- ngaokoto change the place of in any manner; to move
- ngaokoto be active or bustling
- hikoto rise from sleep or unconsciousness
- tairangito disturb the relative position of the particles of
- kōrorito disturb the relative position of the particles of
- kōrorirorito disturb the relative position of the particles of
Norwegian Bokmål røre, røre
- røreto disturb the contents of
- røreto disturb the relative position of the particles of
Polish bełtać, zbełtać
- bełtaćto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- zbełtaćto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- mieszaćto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- wymieszaćto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- aferaPublic disturbance or commotion
- bigosPublic disturbance or commotion
Portuguese mexer, agitar
- mexerto incite to action
- agitarto bring into debate; to agitate
- incitarto bring into debate; to agitate
- mexerto disturb the contents of
- agitarto disturb the contents of
- moverto change the place of in any manner; to move
- mexerto change the place of in any manner; to move
- mexerto disturb the relative position of the particles of
Romanian amesteca, se mișca
- amestecato disturb the contents of
- se mișcato change the place of in any manner; to move
- amestecato disturb the relative position of the particles of
- amestecareThe act or result of stirring
Russian вызыва́ть, вы́звать
- вызыва́ть (vyzyvátʹ)to incite to action
- вы́звать (výzvatʹ)to incite to action
- вызыва́ть (vyzyvátʹ)to bring into debate; to agitate
- вы́звать (výzvatʹ)to bring into debate; to agitate
- возбужда́ть (vozbuždátʹ)to bring into debate; to agitate
- возбуди́ть (vozbudítʹ)to bring into debate; to agitate
- дви́гать (dvígatʹ)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- дви́нуть (dvínutʹ)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- шевели́ть (ševelítʹ)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- шевельну́ть (ševelʹnútʹ)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- дви́гаться (dvígatʹsja)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- дви́нуться (dvínutʹsja)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- неразбери́ха (nerazberíxa)The act or result of stirring
- сумато́ха (sumatóxa)The act or result of stirring
- суета́ (sujetá)The act or result of stirring
- переполо́х (perepolóx)The act or result of stirring
- ажиота́ж (ažiotáž)The act or result of stirring
- волне́ния (volnénija)Public disturbance or commotion
- смяте́ние (smjaténije)Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions
Scottish Gaelic tog, tog
- togto incite to action
- togto bring into debate; to agitate
- measgto change the place of in any manner; to move
Spanish revolver, agitar
- revolverto incite to action
- agitarto incite to action
- arrebatarto incite to action
- removerto disturb the contents of
- revolverto disturb the contents of
- mezclarto disturb the contents of
- bullirto disturb the contents of
- mesclarto disturb the contents of
- mecerto disturb the contents of
- mejerto disturb the contents of
- ebullirto disturb the contents of
- escrucarto disturb the contents of
- revueloAgitation of thoughts; conflicting passions
- conmociónAgitation of thoughts; conflicting passions
- alborotoAgitation of thoughts; conflicting passions
Swedish röra, röra
- rörato disturb the contents of
- rörato disturb the relative position of the particles of
Thai คน
- คน (kon)to disturb the contents of
Turkish karıştırmak, karıştırmak
- karıştırmakto disturb the contents of
- karıştırmakto change the place of in any manner; to move
- karıştırmakto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- heyecanPublic disturbance or commotion
- teheyyüçPublic disturbance or commotion
Ukrainian міша́ти, розмішат́и
- міша́ти (mišáty)to disturb the contents of
- розмішат́и (rozmišat́y)to disturb the contents of
- ру́хатися (rúxatysja)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- ру́шити (rúšyty)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- руша́ти (rušáty)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- воруши́ти (vorušýty)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- воруши́тися (vorušýtysja)to change the place of in any manner; to move
- ру́хатися (rúxatysja)to be active or bustling
- ру́шити (rúšyty)to be active or bustling
- руша́ти (rušáty)to be active or bustling
- воруши́тися (vorušýtysja)to be active or bustling
- ворухну́тися (voruxnútysja)to be active or bustling
- метушня́ (metušnjá)The act or result of stirring
- переполо́х (perepolóx)The act or result of stirring
- ажіота́ж (ažiotáž)The act or result of stirring
Vietnamese khuấy, trộn
- khuấyto disturb the contents of
- trộnto disturb the contents of
- quậyto disturb the contents of
- quấyto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- khuấyto disturb the relative position of the particles of
- quậyto disturb the relative position of the particles of
Welsh troi
- troito disturb the contents of
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with stir
Sounds the same
Anagrams
Cite this entry
stir. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stir
“stir.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stir. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stir,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stir.
Source: stir on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.