Standard Lemma guide

astir

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australian, Received-Pronunciation: /əˈstɜː/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /əˈstɝ/
  • Scotland: /əˈstɪr/
  • New-Zealand: /əˈstøː/
  • /əˈsteː/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
  • /əˈstɛː/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
  • /əˈstɜː(ɹ)/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)
  • homophone: Astaire (fair–fur merger)

1

adj

Meaning 1

In motion; characterized by motion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dynamic, mobile, afoot, animate, astir, cursory, in motion, moving, on the move, on the wing, under sail, unstill

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Out of bed; up and about.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)der. English a- Proto-Indo-European *(s)twerH- Proto-Indo-European *(s)twr̥H-yé-ti? Proto-Germanic *sturjaną Proto-West Germanic *sturjan Old English styrian Middle English stiren English stir English astir From a- + stir.