stoke

verb

stoked; stoking

transitive verb

1
: to poke or stir up (a fire, flames, etc.) : supply with fuel
2
: to feed abundantly
3
: to increase the activity, intensity, or amount of
limiting the number of cars available … will help stoke demand for the carKeith Naughton

intransitive verb

: to stir up or tend a fire (as in a furnace) : supply a furnace with fuel

Examples of stoke in a Sentence

The engineer stoked the coals. The new ad campaign has helped to stoke sales. Poor revenue figures have stoked concerns about possible layoffs.
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.
And perhaps nothing stoked more conversation than the issue of transgender girls and women competing in girls and women’s sports. Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024 The drones straying into NATO territory have not been deemed intentional attacks, but the incidents stoke the fire of tensions between the alliance and Moscow, at its worst point in decades. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 The lockout would severely hamper operations at West Coast ports including Vancouver and Prince Rupert, stoking the flame already started by the current indefinite strike at two container terminals at the Port of Montreal. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2024 Enemies that know how to stoke discord and seek to undermine the outcome of the U.S. election outcome top the list. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stoke 

Word History

Etymology

Dutch stoken; akin to Middle Dutch stuken to push

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stoke was in 1683

Dictionary Entries Near stoke

Cite this Entry

“Stoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoke. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

stoke

verb
stoked; stoking
1
: to stir up or tend (as a fire)
2
: to supply (as a furnace) with fuel
3
: to feed plentifully
stoker noun

Medical Definition

stoke

noun
: the cgs unit of kinematic viscosity being that of a fluid which has a viscosity of one poise and a density of one gram per cubic centimeter

More from Merriam-Webster on stoke

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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