Standard Lemma guide

stirring

adj · noun · verb · 7 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.

  • General-American: /ˈstɝɪŋ/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈstɜːɹɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɜːɹɪŋ
  • CMU ARPABET: S T ER1 IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

invigorating or inspiring

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Gameshttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-hunger-games,71293/ The opening crawl (and a stirring propaganda movie) informs us that “The Hunger Games” are an annual event in Panem, a North American nation divided into 12 different districts, each in service to the Capitol, a wealthy metropolis that owes its creature comforts to an oppressive dictatorship.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An occasion on which something stirs or is stirred

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, gerund, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of stir

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

exciting strong but not unpleasant emotions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a stirring speech

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: soul-stirring

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a rousing sermon
  • stirring events such as wars and rescues

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rousing

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

agitating a liquid with an implement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • constant stirring prevents it from burning on the bottom of the pan

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: agitation

7

noun

Meaning 7

arousing to a particular emotion or action

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inspiration

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: arousal, rousing

History

Etymology

By surface analysis, stir + -ing.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: вълнуващ (vǎlnuvašt) — invigorating, inspiring
  • French: passionnant — invigorating, inspiring
  • French: enthousiasmant — invigorating, inspiring
  • German: ergreifend — invigorating, inspiring
  • German: bewegend — invigorating, inspiring
  • German: aufwühlend — invigorating, inspiring
  • Irish: corraitheach — invigorating, inspiring
  • Turkish: heyecanlı — invigorating, inspiring
Real reading context

stirring in complete knowledge articles