stimuli

USAGE SUMMARY

'stimuli' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when talking about the things that evoke a response from an organism/animal, such as an external or internal input. For example: "Seeing the bright colors of the candy was a visual stimuli that caused the child to reach out and grab it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For this literate, word-loving chronicler of the world he sees around him, acting offers different stimuli.

The Guardian - Music

And sugar and alcohol are clearly supernormal stimuli, so we're continuing to debate and adjust our rules and societal norms about who gets unfettered access to them, what good limits are, and how often these things should appear in a "good life".

The Guardian - Tech

I'm not that sort of human. 1 Transform the meaning of stimuli "It sounds like a heavy phrase but what does it mean?" says Walter Mischel.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Smart gels contain water or some other fluid within a matrix of chain-like polymer molecules, and respond to changes in temperature, light, and various other forces and stimuli with dramatic changes in size or shape.

The Guardian

Pondering these questions, I'm reminded of the philosopher Daniel Dennett's thinking on "supernormal stimuli".

The Guardian - Tech

Whatever the answer, the nuanced position on supernormal stimuli isn't "ban them all" but "let's think carefully about how we want to live with them".

The Guardian - Tech

The second flight, a long one, took half a day (or, strictly speaking, all night), in my temporary abode stashed under my human's stockinged feet (those wretched olfactory stimuli).

The Economist

That put paid to the visual stimuli, sure, but I was left all alone.

The Economist

In the absence of such stimuli, history suggests that catch-up will be a long, difficult grind, built on slow improvement in institutions and worker skill levels.

The Economist

Unlike some other economic stimuli, these benefits tend to get spent quickly on consumer goods.

The Economist

"The brain design of the movie agents focuses on how they will react to particular stimuli and situations, such as deflecting an incoming battle axe, and finding an enemy," says Ms Holland.The result is Massive Insight, a software package that makes it possible to create agents and program their behaviour preferences using simple graphical tools.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about experiments or research, use "stimuli" to clearly define the factors that cause a response in the subjects.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "stimuli" (plural of stimulus, something that provokes a response) with "stimulant" (something that increases activity). Using the wrong word can change the meaning of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stimuli" is as a noun, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, consistently referring to factors that elicit a response.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stimuli" is the plural form of stimulus and denotes factors that elicit a response. It is considered grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, and frequently appears in diverse contexts like news, science, and formal business writing. The term functions primarily as a noun, serving to describe causative agents in various processes. Usage tips include being aware of potential confusion with 'stimulant'. This guide offers a detailed overview of how to effectively use "stimuli" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sensory inputs

Focuses specifically on inputs received through the senses.

external influences

Emphasizes the origin of the stimuli from outside the subject.

triggering factors

Highlights the role of stimuli in initiating a response.

environmental cues

Focuses on stimuli originating from the environment.

motivating forces

Emphasizes the motivational aspect of stimuli, especially in behavioral contexts.

eliciting agents

Highlights the capacity of stimuli to draw out a response.

activating signals

Focuses on stimuli that initiate activity or a process.

sources of stimulation

General phrase indicating anything that provides stimulation.

prompting events

Emphasizes the role of stimuli in causing something to happen.

catalytic influences

Highlights stimuli that accelerate or enable a process.

FAQs

How is "stimuli" used in a scientific context?

In science, "stimuli" refers to factors that elicit a physiological or psychological response. For example, researchers might study how different visual "stimuli" affect brain activity.

What are some synonyms for "stimuli"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "inputs", "incentives", or "influences" as alternatives for "stimuli".

Is "stimuli" a singular or plural noun?

"Stimuli" is the plural form of "stimulus". The singular form, "stimulus", refers to a single prompting factor, while "stimuli" refers to multiple factors.

Can "stimuli" refer to non-physical things?

Yes, "stimuli" can refer to both physical and non-physical things, such as ideas, concepts, or economic policies. For example, economic "stimuli" are measures designed to boost economic activity.