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

Sorry about anything that might stir up, but the point was too irresistible to leave alone for a few reasons. —Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 3 Jan. 2025

This transit could stir up old family dynamics and unresolved issues, which is all the more reason to set firm boundaries. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025

Carter’s brother Billy, whose antics stirred up unwanted attention during the Carter White House years, died in 1988. —Marty Steinberg, CNBC, 29 Dec. 2024

Mars’ retrograde in your partnership sector, however, might stir up old tensions — be patient and give others the benefit of the doubt. —Dossé-Via Trenou, refinery29.com, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1