stir up
verb
stirred up; stirring up; stirs up
1
: to cause (someone) to feel a strong emotion and a desire to do something
The speech stirred up the crowd.
2
: to cause (something) to move up into and through the air or water
The workers stirred up a lot of dust.
3
: to cause (something, usually something bad or unpleasant) to happen
They're trying to stir up trouble.
But, of course, there's a reason politicians generally try to communicate deliberately: It helps them avoid saying things that might offend voters or stir up controversy.—
Philip Bump
Philip BumpI'm not a rebel, trying to stir things up just to be provocative.—Norma Klein
Norma Klein… the incident stirred up a hornet's nest of protest and indignation.—Robert T. Martinott
Robert T. MartinottExamples of stir up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
See Season 7 schedule McDonald's Snack Wraps are officially coming back: Here's when Huge 400-pound alligator captured in North Carolina on 'suspicion of being a dinosaur' A new Lululemon dress is stirring up the internet.
—James Powel, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Being in the very environment that motivated Brown as a child stirred up many thoughts, and feelings, all overwhelmingly positive.
—Cierra Black, Essence, 11 June 2025
Because Lynda Ballou died in 2022, Jack Ballou said the news of the school closure stirred up some emotions.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2025
The country clubs are hotbeds of anxiety, stirring up questions about who lost a job this month, whose bills are past due.
—Dwyer Murphy
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stir up
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James Powel, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Being in the very environment that motivated Brown as a child stirred up many thoughts, and feelings, all overwhelmingly positive.
—Cierra Black, Essence, 11 June 2025
Because Lynda Ballou died in 2022, Jack Ballou said the news of the school closure stirred up some emotions.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2025
The country clubs are hotbeds of anxiety, stirring up questions about who lost a job this month, whose bills are past due.
—Dwyer Murphy
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stir up
Cite this Entry
“Stir up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stir%20up. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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