stimulus
noun
stim·u·lus
ˈstim-yə-ləs 
plural stimuli
ˈstim-yə-ˌlī
-ˌlē
-ˌlē
: something that rouses or incites to activity: such as
a
c
: an agent (such as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)
Synonyms
Examples of stimulus in a Sentence
The pay raise was a stimulus for production.
Heat and light are physical stimuli.
The dog responded to the stimulus of the ringing bell.
Recent Examples on the Web
Perhaps most intriguingly, these principles are even being applied to the field of robotics, with researchers developing tiny mobile robots that can respond to environmental stimuli in ways inspired by natural mechanisms.
—
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 6 Feb. 2025
As consumers returned to dining out, traveling and other services, many fast-food cashiers, front-desk clerks and hair stylists were leery of coming back to in-person jobs and living off generous government stimulus checks and other aid, Hershbein said.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025
While the economic activity might pick up in the coming months as policymakers are likely to step up stimulus and front-load deficit spending at the start of 2025, the economy is still struggling amid the structural headwinds and tariff threats from the new U.S. administration, Huang said.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025
Circadian Phase Alignment maps stimuli such as stress and exercise against circadian rhythm to recommend ideal times to go to bed and wake up.
—PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stimulus 
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Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 6 Feb. 2025
As consumers returned to dining out, traveling and other services, many fast-food cashiers, front-desk clerks and hair stylists were leery of coming back to in-person jobs and living off generous government stimulus checks and other aid, Hershbein said.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025
While the economic activity might pick up in the coming months as policymakers are likely to step up stimulus and front-load deficit spending at the start of 2025, the economy is still struggling amid the structural headwinds and tariff threats from the new U.S. administration, Huang said.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025
Circadian Phase Alignment maps stimuli such as stress and exercise against circadian rhythm to recommend ideal times to go to bed and wake up.
—PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stimulus
Articles Related to stimulus
Dictionary Entries Near stimulus
Cite this Entry
“Stimulus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stimulus. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stimulus
noun
stim·u·lus
ˈstim-yə-ləs
plural stimuli
-ˌlī
-ˌlē
1
: something that rouses or stirs to action : incentive
2
: something (as an environmental change) that acts to partly change bodily activity (as by exciting a sensory organ)
heat, light, and sound are common physical stimuli
Medical Definition
stimulus
noun
stim·u·lus
ˈstim-yə-ləs
2
: an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of living protoplasm (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)
a visual stimulus
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