stirring

/ˈstʌrɪŋ/

/ˈstʌrɪŋ/

Other forms: stirrings

Something that's stirring is gripping or moving—it inspires some kind of powerful emotion, like Martin Luther King, Jr.'s stirring "I Have a Dream" speech.

When people sing stirring songs at church, during a protest march, or around the piano at home, they might make you cry, while a stirring public speaker often makes the crowd feel enthusiastic and roused to action. In the 15th century, this adjective had a much more literal meaning: "in active motion, or animated." The verb stir, "move, rouse, or agitate," shares a root with storm.

Definitions of stirring

1. adjective

   exciting strong but not unpleasant emotions
   “a stirring speech”

   synonyms: soul-stirring

   moving

   arousing or capable of arousing deep emotion
2. adjective

   capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement
   “stirring events such as wars and rescues”

   synonyms: rousing

   stimulating

   rousing or quickening activity or the senses
3. noun

   agitating a liquid with an implement
   “constant stirring prevents it from burning on the bottom of the pan”

   type of:

   agitation

   the act of agitating something; causing it to move around (usually vigorously)
4. noun

   arousing to a particular emotion or action
   synonyms: inspiration

   type of:

   arousal, rousing

   the act of arousing