- inspiring new ideas or enthusiasm
- (of a physical activity) making one feel refreshed and energetic
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
stim•u•lat•ing /ˈstɪmyəˌleɪtɪŋ/USA pronunciation adj.
- bringing a feeling of enthusiasm;
inspiring:a stimulating conversation.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
stimulating /ˈstɪmjʊˌleɪtɪŋ/ adj
stim•u•late /ˈstɪmyəˌleɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object (+ to + verb)], -lat•ed, -lat•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to encourage to start, begin, or to do some action:Talking to her stimulates my mind.
- Medicine, Physiology, Psychology, Physiologyto excite (a nerve, etc.) to its functional activity:This drug stimulates the brain to produce its own hormone.
stim•u•late
(stim′yə lāt′),USA pronunciation v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
stim′u•la•ble, adj.
stim•u•la•bil•i•ty
(stim′yə lə bil′i tē),USA pronunciation n.
stim′u•lat′ing•ly, adv.
stim′u•la′tion, n.
stim′u•la′tor, stim′u•lat′er, n.
v.t.
- to rouse to action or effort, as by encouragement or pressure; spur on;
incite:to stimulate his interest in mathematics. - Medicine, Physiology, Psychology, Physiology[Physiol., Med.]to excite (a nerve, gland, etc.) to its functional activity.
- to invigorate (a person) by a food or beverage containing a stimulant, as coffee, tea, or alcoholic liquor.
v.i.
- to act as a stimulus or stimulant.
- Latin stimulātus (past participle of stimulāre to goad). See stimulus, -ate1
- 1540–50
stim′u•la′tion, n.
stim′u•la′tor, stim′u•lat′er, n.
- 1. arouse, activate, excite. See animate.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
stimulate /ˈstɪmjʊˌleɪt/ vb
- (transitive) to excite (a nerve, organ, etc) with a stimulus
'stimulating' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
acupuncture
- analeptic
- appetizer
- appetizing
- bland
- bracing
- brainrot
- challenge
- challenging
- coca
- colony-stimulating factor
- cordial
- crisp
- CSF
- exciting
- fruity
- grabby
- hyped up
- immunotherapy
- inspire
- interest
- intoxicating
- kick
- laxative
- maté
- monochrome
- monosodium glutamate
- mustard plaster
- parasympathetic
- piquant
- reminiscent
- stimulant
- stirring
- stomachic
- thrilling
- trickle-down
- trip
- vaccine
- adrenocorticotropic
- air layering
- anticholinesterase
- antipyrotic
- aperitive
- attract
- bracer
- brainstorming
- brisk
- bufadienolide
- crinogenic
- cunnilingus