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
Chinese markets were sharply higher in earlier trading, buoyed by signs of possible additional stimulus measures in China and Goldman Sachs Group’s upgrade of Hong Kong stocks to market-weight.
—
Teresa Cerojano, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Using a tool to measure how patients perceive stimuli like temperature and touch, researchers in Germany found that women with lipedema had a lower pain threshold compared with other women.
—Francesca Gilbard, NBC news, 10 July 2025
However, the bank’s Head of Research at HSBC Qianhai Securities, Steven Sun, said that the country’s overall economic growth may continue to face pressure with no bazooka stimulus in sight.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 July 2025
At this point four years ago, Democrats believed that Joe Biden’s 2021 stimulus plan would deliver benefits that Americans would thank them for.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stimulus
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Teresa Cerojano, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Using a tool to measure how patients perceive stimuli like temperature and touch, researchers in Germany found that women with lipedema had a lower pain threshold compared with other women.
—Francesca Gilbard, NBC news, 10 July 2025
However, the bank’s Head of Research at HSBC Qianhai Securities, Steven Sun, said that the country’s overall economic growth may continue to face pressure with no bazooka stimulus in sight.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 July 2025
At this point four years ago, Democrats believed that Joe Biden’s 2021 stimulus plan would deliver benefits that Americans would thank them for.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 July 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 18 Jul. 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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