bestir

verb

be·​stir bi-ˈstər How to pronounce bestir (audio)
bē-
bestirred; bestirring; bestirs
Synonyms of bestirnext

transitive verb

: to rouse to action : get going

Examples of bestir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Witnesses—from staffers and family members to congresspeople—conjured a muted Commander-in-Chief, who could not bestir himself, as armed rioters stormed the Capitol building, to rise from his seat at the head of the West Wing’s dining-room table and call off the mob. — Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 22 July 2022 The New York Times finally bestirred itself to report on Reade’s charges, burying them on page A20 of its Easter Sunday edition. — Nr Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bestir was in the 14th century

Rhymes for bestir

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bestir
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Cite this Entry

“Bestir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bestir. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

bestir

verb
be·​stir bi-ˈstər How to pronounce bestir (audio)
: to stir up : rouse to action

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