stir up

verb

stirred up; stirring up; stirs up

transitive verb

1

: to cause (someone) to feel a strong emotion and a desire to do something

The speech stirred up the crowd.

2

: to cause (something) to move up into and through the air or water

The workers stirred up a lot of dust.

3

: to cause (something, usually something bad or unpleasant) to happen

They're trying to stir up trouble.

But, of course, there's a reason politicians generally try to communicate deliberately: It helps them avoid saying things that might offend voters or stir up controversy.

—Philip Bump

I'm not a rebel, trying to stir things up just to be provocative.

—Norma Klein

… the incident stirred up a hornet's nest of protest and indignation.

—Robert T. Martinott

Examples of stir up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The two sides figured out a payment structure that benefited both parties, enabling King — entering his contract year — to focus on his job without the hard feelings that arbitration hearings often stir up. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025

This is one decor investment that will grow with you because a work of art that resonates deeply with your will likely always stir up those same emotions, even as your tastes change. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2025

Madea and her crew head to the Bahamas, stirring up chaos and heartwarming fun. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2025

Despite those rebuttals, the debate over Greenland’s future has been stirred up by growing speculation over its independence movement. —Billy Stockwell, James Frater and Eve Brennan, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1