stimulate

To encourage someone to act or make an activity grow.

• Lower prices stimulate demand.
• The government cut taxes to stimulate the economy.
• New investment has stimulated growth in the region.

How to use it: stimulate someone to do something (The grant stimulated local companies to invest in training.)

Similar words: encourage, boost, promote, spur

Opposites: discourage, hinder

Common phrases: stimulate the economy, stimulate growth, stimulate demand

To make someone feel interested, excited, or eager to think.

• The story stimulated her imagination.
• These questions stimulate children's curiosity.
• Does the course stimulate students intellectually?

Similar words: interest, excite, inspire

Opposites: bore

Common phrases: stimulate interest, stimulate curiosity, stimulate someone's imagination

To make a living thing or part of the body become active or work more strongly.

• The medicine stimulates digestion.
• Exercise can stimulate blood flow to the muscles.
• The hormone stimulated the cells to grow.

Similar words: activate, excite

Opposites: inhibit, suppress

Common phrases: stimulate blood flow, stimulate the brain, stimulate muscle growth

To cause a person or thing to react by doing something to it.

• Light stimulates the sensor.
• A gentle touch stimulated a response.
• The experiment used sound to stimulate a reaction.

How to use it: stimulate someone/something with something (The technician stimulated the sensor with a brief flash of light.)

Similar words: activate, excite

Opposites: inhibit

Common phrases: stimulate a response, stimulate a nerve, stimulate with something