stimulate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "stimulate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to exciting, energizing, or otherwise encouraging someone or something to take action. Example sentence: The inspiring atmosphere stimulates the students to learn.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By attacking poverty and pay, we'll address the inequality that blights lives - and stimulate the economy at the same time.

The Guardian

He embraced the idea of quantitative easing, which involves increasing the money supply in order to stimulate economic activity.

The Guardian - Business

His aim is to "capture anything that I can turn into something that will make you think, or anything that will stimulate your senses: I capture light and the magical moments that this earth has to share with us".

The Guardian

The Conservative belief that spending cuts will stimulate economic growth in time for tax cuts at the next election is a real gamble.

The Guardian - Opinion

Europe needs to stimulate demand in other ways too, mainly by cutting the member states some budgetary slack.

The Guardian - Opinion

A technology first used by vets to treat injured racehorses, the electromagnetic charges thrown out by PEMF equipment are thought to stimulate your body's cells, which can aid recovery from injury, reduce headaches, improve your immune system and blood circulation, provide improved sleep, and boost your general energy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, the data will diminish hopes that the ECB will feel the need to take further action to stimulate growth.

The Guardian - Business

Repressive cultures and public prohibitions stimulate an underworld that is the inverse, sexually and behaviourally, of the values and attitudes enshrined in the public face of these societies.

The Guardian - Arts

"China is fast growing and wants to stimulate consumption so they will continue to buy our commodities.

The Guardian

What we hope to do is stimulate a proper debate.

The Guardian

"This latter risk also suggests that policies to stimulate demand should be accompanied by reinforced measures to overcome structural obstacles to finding work.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stimulate", consider the specific context to ensure it accurately reflects the type of encouragement or activation intended.

Common error

Avoid using "stimulate" excessively in highly formal or academic writing; opt for more precise verbs like 'activate' or 'foster' where appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stimulate" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object to complete its meaning. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it describes the action of encouraging or causing something to become more active or functional.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Lifestyle

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "stimulate" is a versatile transitive verb used to describe the act of encouraging action, arousing interest, or boosting activity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples of its usage in professional, neutral, and formal writing. It is most frequently found in news and business contexts, highlighting its relevance in discussions of economic growth, policy changes, and sensory experiences. When using "stimulate", consider the specific context to ensure it aligns with the intended meaning. Alternatives such as "encourage", "activate", and "motivate" can offer more precise nuances depending on the situation. While generally appropriate for formal writing, overuse should be avoided in favor of more contextually specific verbs. In summary, "stimulate" is a valuable word for conveying the idea of prompting or instigating a response, particularly in professional and formal settings. "Stimulate" is a correct and widely used verb for describing actions that encourage activity or development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encourage

Focuses on giving support, confidence, or hope to someone.

motivate

Emphasizes providing a reason or incentive to do something.

activate

Implies making something active or operative.

trigger

Indicates initiating a process or reaction.

spark

Implies creating a sudden burst of activity or interest.

arouse

Suggests evoking a feeling or response.

galvanize

Implies shocking or exciting someone into taking action.

foster

Highlights the nurturing and development of something.

invigorate

Suggests filling with energy or vitality.

incentivize

Focuses on providing incentives to encourage behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "stimulate" in a sentence?

You can use "stimulate" to describe encouraging action, arousing interest, or boosting activity. For example, 'The new policy aims to stimulate economic growth'.

What are some alternatives to "stimulate"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "encourage", "activate", or "motivate".

What is the difference between "stimulate" and "encourage"?

"Stimulate" implies a more direct and sometimes artificial boost, while "encourage" focuses on providing support and hope.

Is it correct to say "stimulate" the economy?

Yes, it is perfectly correct and common to say "stimulate" the economy, meaning to boost or encourage economic activity.