"Stirred up" has two main meanings: to cause someone to feel a strong emotion and desire to act, or to cause something to move upwards through air or water.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Meaning 1: Emotional Arousal and Incitement
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Definition: To provoke strong feelings in someone, often leading to a desire to do something. This can involve excitement, anger, enthusiasm, or other intense emotions.
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Examples:
- "The politician's speech stirred up the crowd, inciting them to protest."
- "The news report stirred up a lot of anger and resentment."
- "The movie stirred up memories of her childhood."
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Synonyms: Arouse, provoke, incite, excite, agitate, instigate.
Meaning 2: Physical Disturbance
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Definition: To cause something (like dust or water) to move upwards and become mixed or agitated.
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Examples:
- "The construction workers stirred up a lot of dust."
- "The wind stirred up the leaves on the ground."
- "The swimmer stirred up the sediment at the bottom of the pool."
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Synonyms: Agitate, disturb, rouse.
In summary, "stirred up" refers either to causing emotional excitement or to physically disturbing a substance by mixing or raising it.
