: a beginning of motion or activity : movement
—often used in plural
the first stirrings of revolution
Synonyms
Examples of stirring in a Sentence
Adjective
a stirring rendition of the national anthem
the message of brotherhood in Martin Luther King's stirring “I Have a Dream” speech still resonates today
Noun
I thought I detected a slight stirring of the leaves, and yet there wasn't a breath of wind.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Doan-Nguyen and Aaron Morrison, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2024
That ability to turn pain and heartbreak into stirring cinematic images remains a hallmark of this generation of filmmakers.
—Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2024
Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 June 2024
The result is a riveting and complex drama about mothers, daughters, the stirrings of romance, the vulnerability of youth, and the crushing power of institutions.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stirring 
Adjective
The history of jazz and musicianship in Black American protest is deeper than many people realize, said Mr. Marsalis, the legendary trumpeter who delivers stirring melodies throughout the album.
—Ryan Doan-Nguyen and Aaron Morrison, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2024
That ability to turn pain and heartbreak into stirring cinematic images remains a hallmark of this generation of filmmakers.
—Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2024
Noun
But, just as the stirring of the royal kava root is done with deliberation, change in Tonga looks set to progress at an equally sedate rate.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 June 2024
The result is a riveting and complex drama about mothers, daughters, the stirrings of romance, the vulnerability of youth, and the crushing power of institutions.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stirring
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stirring.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near stirring
Cite this Entry
“Stirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stirring. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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