stimulus
noun
stim·u·lus
ˈstim-yə-ləs 
plural stimuli
ˈstim-yə-ˌlī
-ˌlē
-ˌlē
: something that rouses or incites to activity: such as
a
c
: an agent (such as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)
Examples of stimulus in a Sentence
The pay raise was a stimulus for production.
Heat and light are physical stimuli.
The dog responded to the stimulus of the ringing bell.
Recent Examples on the Web
The recordings revealed that AWB and ASH, two neurons that are responsible for making sense of olfactory stimuli, were activated when the corpses and fluids were present, indicating that the worms were smelling the signature of death.
—
Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2025
When we get stung by a wasp, the association between pain and wasps is encoded in the region of the brain called the amygdala, which connects simple stimuli with basic emotions.
—ArsTechnica, 21 May 2025
While the economy is grappling with the drag of deflation, economists widely anticipate Beijing to roll out additional stimulus in staggered way and at a slower pace.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 20 May 2025
And for many of us, that stimuli are these ultraformulated foods.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stimulus
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Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2025
When we get stung by a wasp, the association between pain and wasps is encoded in the region of the brain called the amygdala, which connects simple stimuli with basic emotions.
—ArsTechnica, 21 May 2025
While the economy is grappling with the drag of deflation, economists widely anticipate Beijing to roll out additional stimulus in staggered way and at a slower pace.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 20 May 2025
And for many of us, that stimuli are these ultraformulated foods.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stimulus
Cite this Entry
“Stimulus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stimulus. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stimulus
noun
stim·u·lus
ˈstim-yə-ləs
plural stimuli
-ˌlī
-ˌlē
1
: something that rouses or stirs to action : incentive
2
: something (as an environmental change) that acts to partly change bodily activity (as by exciting a sensory organ)
heat, light, and sound are common physical stimuli
Medical Definition
stimulus
noun
stim·u·lus
ˈstim-yə-ləs
2
: an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of living protoplasm (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)
a visual stimulus
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