verb

stir

stur

verb

To mix a liquid or substance by moving an object like a spoon through it.

"She stirred the soup so it wouldn't stick to the pan."

"Stir the paint well before you use it."

To move slightly, especially after being still, or to begin waking up.

"The baby stirred but didn't wake."

"A light breeze stirred the curtains."

To provoke a strong emotion or reaction in someone.

"The speech stirred the crowd to action."

noun

A commotion or strong reaction, especially in public opinion.

"The announcement caused quite a stir in the office."

How to Use Stir

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMixing something with a circular motion, or a small movement/reaction — including a stirring of public excitement.

Common mistake

"Stir" as slang for prison ("in the stir") is old-fashioned/informal and rarely used today.

Common pairings

stir the pot cause a stir stir to action stir gently

Word Forms

stirred past tense, stir plural, stirred plural, stirs plural, stirs plural, stirs singular, stir singular, stirred singular, stirredst singular, stirrest singular, stirreth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ the paint well before you use it.

Etymology

From Old English styrian, "to move, agitate, disturb" — related to German stören, "to disturb."