# stimulate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈstɪm.jʊ.leɪt/ · frequency rank #11,801

## Definitions
1. To encourage into action.
2. To arouse an organism to functional activity.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Latin stimulus
Latin stimulo
Latin stimulatusbor.
English stimulate
Borrowed from Latin stimulātus, perfect passive participle of stimulō (“to urge, goad on”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin stimulus (“a sting or prick; a stimulus, goad”).

## Easily confused with
- **stipulate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stimulate-vs-stipulate)
- **stimulated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stimulate-vs-stimulated)
- **stipulated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stimulate-vs-stipulated)
- **simulate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simulate-vs-stimulate)
- **stimulant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stimulant-vs-stimulate)

## Common misspellings (13)
`sitmulate`, `sstimulate`, `stimluate`, `stimmulate`, `stimualte`, `stimulaet`, `stimulatte`, `stimullate`, `stimultae`, `stiumlate`, `stmiulate`, `sttimulate`, `tsimulate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/stimulate