stoke

verb

stoked; stoking

transitive verb

1
: to poke or stir up (a fire, flames, etc.) : supply with fuel
2
: to feed abundantly
3
: to increase the activity, intensity, or amount of
limiting the number of cars available … will help stoke demand for the carKeith Naughton

intransitive verb

: to stir up or tend a fire (as in a furnace) : supply a furnace with fuel

Examples of stoke in a Sentence

The engineer stoked the coals. The new ad campaign has helped to stoke sales. Poor revenue figures have stoked concerns about possible layoffs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yet the President himself stokes fears of a slippery slope to strongman rule with his blanket assertions of power, his disregard for democratic guardrails, and his talk of running for a third term, despite the 22nd Amendment’s prohibition. Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Apr. 2025 That briefly stoked concerns that Trump might fire Powell and challenge the U.S. central bank’s independence. Lisa Kailai Han,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025 From a Mediterranean-style cave home to an estate in the heart of the Yucca Valley that will stoke your sense of adventure, there are so many ways to take in Hollywood’s quieter counterpart, which offers a slice of serenity moments away from city life. Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 24 Apr. 2025 Some Democrats are already making moves that have stoked 2028 speculation, from California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s podcasts to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (N.Y.) recent series of rallies alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Niall Stanage, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stoke

Word History

Etymology

Dutch stoken; akin to Middle Dutch stuken to push

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stoke was in 1683

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoke. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

stoke

verb
stoked; stoking
1
: to stir up or tend (as a fire)
2
: to supply (as a furnace) with fuel
3
: to feed plentifully
stoker noun

Medical Definition

stoke

noun
: the cgs unit of kinematic viscosity being that of a fluid which has a viscosity of one poise and a density of one gram per cubic centimeter

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