stir
/stɜː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /stɜːr/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstər/ (ame, mw) · /stɜːr/ (bre, ipa) · /stɝː/ (ame, ipa)
stir — verb
- stirpresent simple I / you / we / they
- stirshe / she / it
- stirredpast simple
- stirring-ing form
1. to rotate a spoon or similar tool through a liquid or soft substance so that all
to rotate a spoon or similar tool through a liquid or soft substance so that all the separate parts become evenly spread throughout
Beatriz stirred the soup with a wooden spoon until the vegetables were evenly mixed.
stir + object + with + tool
Feng slowly added milk to his coffee while stirring gently.
The recipe says to stir the cake batter for two minutes until smooth.
Walid watched the chef stir a pinch of salt into the simmering sauce.
Élise stirred the lemonade with a long spoon before pouring it into glasses.
文法句型
stir + object + with + tool
stir + object + into + mixture
常見錯誤
2. to shift only a tiny amount while staying in one place, or to make another thing
to shift only a tiny amount while staying in one place, or to make another thing shift just a bit
The baby stirred in her sleep but stayed fast asleep.
stir in sleep — slight movement without waking
A light breeze stirred the curtains by the open window.
Asher lay still on the sofa, not stirring even when the doorbell rang.
Dust stirred in the air as the children ran through the old barn.
Luca barely stirred when his roommate tiptoed into the room at midnight.
- freeze
to stay completely still, the opposite of any movement
文法句型
stir (intransitive) — subject moves slightly
stir + object — subject causes object to move slightly
用法筆記
Commonly used in negative constructions ('not stir' or 'barely stir') to emphasize that someone or something remained very still. Can also be used of inanimate objects moved by air or water.
常見錯誤
3. to cause someone to feel a powerful emotion such as excitement, anger, sadness,
to cause someone to feel a powerful emotion such as excitement, anger, sadness, or admiration, often in response to something they see, hear, or experience
The old photograph stirred memories of summers spent at her grandmother's house.
stir memories of [something]
The speaker's words stirred deep anger in the crowd gathered outside the town hall.
stir [emotion] in [person/group]
Seeing the children's faces stirred something inside Matthew that he could not explain.
The film's final scene stirred the audience to tears.
Ari was deeply stirred by the beauty of the sunset over the mountains.
- calm
to reduce emotional intensity, opposite of stirring feelings
文法句型
stir + object (person) — cause strong emotion
stir + emotion + in + person
用法筆記
Commonly used in the passive voice ('be stirred by') or with the emotion as the direct object ('stir anger', 'stir excitement'). The pattern 'stir + person + to + emotional response' (e.g., 'stir to tears') is a fixed collocation.
常見錯誤
4. to deliberately create disagreement, arguments, or problems among a group of peo
to deliberately create disagreement, arguments, or problems among a group of people, often by saying things that upset or divide them
Caleb stirred trouble among his colleagues by spreading rumors about the new manager.
stir trouble among [group]
The politician was accused of stirring racial hatred with his speech.
stir [negative emotion: hatred / resentment / anger]
Beatriz knew her cousin enjoyed stirring up drama at every family gathering.
The newspaper article stirred resentment between the two communities.
- quell
to stop or prevent trouble, the opposite of causing it
文法句型
stir + trouble / conflict / resentment
stir up — phrasal variant with same meaning
用法筆記
Often used with 'up' as a phrasal verb ('stir up trouble'). The object is typically a negative social emotion (trouble, hatred, resentment, conflict, drama). The subject is usually a person or media source acting deliberately.
常見錯誤
5. to start moving after being still or asleep, or to begin doing something after a
to start moving after being still or asleep, or to begin doing something after a period of inactivity
Christopher finally stirred at ten o'clock and stumbled into the kitchen.
stir + time — waking up after sleeping in
The volunteers stirred into action as soon as the news of the flood reached them.
stir into action — begin to act quickly
Zuri knew she had to stir herself and finish the report before the deadline.
Hao stirred slowly as sunlight filled the tent, then sat up and reached for his water bottle.
文法句型
stir (intransitive) — person begins to move or act
stir oneself — reflexive
用法筆記
Often used reflexively ('stir oneself') to indicate making an effort to become active. The phrase 'stir into action' is a common fixed collocation for groups responding to a situation.
常見錯誤
6. if a feeling or emotion slowly begins to develop and become noticeable inside yo
if a feeling or emotion slowly begins to develop and become noticeable inside you, growing from a faint beginning into a stronger presence
A strange curiosity stirred within Faisal as he opened the old wooden chest.
[emotion] stirs within [person]
Deep inside the young nurse, a quiet sense of purpose began to stir.
As the final notes of the song faded, a tender sadness stirred in her heart.
When the treaty was signed, hope stirred among the people once more.
- subside
when a feeling grows weaker and disappears, the opposite of stirring
文法句型
emotion + stirs (in/within + person) — emotion begins to develop
用法筆記
The preposition 'within' sounds more literary than 'in'. This sense is almost always used with abstract emotion nouns (hope, curiosity, anger, sadness) as the subject, not with people.
常見錯誤
stir — noun
- stirsingular
- stirsplural
1. the action of moving a spoon or similar tool through a drink or food mixture to
the action of moving a spoon or similar tool through a drink or food mixture to combine the parts evenly
Feng gave the boiling pot a quick stir before adding the pasta.
give [object] a stir — common collocation pattern
The sauce needs a stir every few minutes to stop it from sticking.
Élise added a final stir to the paint before starting her brushwork.
Matthew gave his tea a gentle stir and then took a careful sip.
文法句型
give something a stir
用法筆記
Almost always used in the pattern 'give [something] a stir' or 'need a stir'. It is a countable noun in this sense and typically singular.
2. a situation in which many people become interested, excited, or talkative about
a situation in which many people become interested, excited, or talkative about a particular event, person, or piece of news
The young actor's surprise appearance caused quite a stir among the fans.
cause a stir — most common collocation
The new policy created a stir in the community with strong opinions on both sides.
Christopher's resignation from the board caused a stir in the business world.
The artist's unusual sculpture caused a stir when it was first shown at the museum.
文法句型
cause a stir
create a stir
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed expression 'cause a stir' or 'create a stir'. The stir is usually temporary public excitement rather than lasting controversy.
常見錯誤
3. a public gathering where citizens assemble to voice their backing for or disagre
a public gathering where citizens assemble to voice their backing for or disagreement with a political or social matter
A political stir in the capital brought thousands of protesters to the main square demanding fair elections.
political stir — established journalistic collocation
Factory workers organised a stir outside the town hall to demand better safety equipment.
The student stir over tuition fees grew larger each day, with more protesters joining the march.
Ritu joined the political stir outside city hall, holding a sign that called for cleaner drinking water.
- protest
more common and neutral; 'stir' in this sense is less frequent and slightly more informal
- demonstration
more formal; implies an organized event with a clear purpose
- uprising
much stronger; implies rebellion or revolt rather than peaceful protest
文法句型
political stir
stir + over + issue
用法筆記
In this sense 'stir' is often modified by a preceding noun ('student stir', 'political stir', 'labour stir') that specifies the group involved. It overlaps with noun sense 2 but emphasizes organized public action rather than general excitement.