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
Most taxpayers eligible for economic impact payments, known as stimulus checks, have already received them.
—
Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
This tool could change how NC police test for DWIs
April 4, 2025 3:38 PM
Read Next
North Carolina
Could NC residents get a $5,000 DOGE stimulus check in 2025?
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2025
Household demand, driven by stimulus payments and savings accumulated during lockdowns, underpinned robust sales growth.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Under Lightfoot, the district benefited from a surfeit of federal stimulus dollars that went to hiring.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stimulus
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
This tool could change how NC police test for DWIs
April 4, 2025 3:38 PM
Read Next
North Carolina
Could NC residents get a $5,000 DOGE stimulus check in 2025?
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2025
Household demand, driven by stimulus payments and savings accumulated during lockdowns, underpinned robust sales growth.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Under Lightfoot, the district benefited from a surfeit of federal stimulus dollars that went to hiring.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 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 14 Apr. 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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