stimulating

Everyday

1. Stimulating means interesting and exciting in a way that makes you think and want to know more. tree →
2. Stimulating can mean making something more active, like a drink stimulating your brain. tree →
3. As a verb form, stimulating is what you are doing when you stimulate something: «They are stimulating growth». tree →

In the lessons

In school, teachers and reports praise «a stimulating lesson», «a stimulating classroom» or «stimulating books», meaning ones that make pupils curious. In science, «stimulating» describes what causes nerves, muscles or plants to react. Phrases: «a stimulating discussion», «intellectually stimulating», «stimulating environment».

Examples

• It was a really stimulating science lesson about volcanoes. tree →
• Puzzles are a stimulating way to spend a rainy afternoon. tree →
• The teacher made the classroom bright and stimulating. tree →
• We had a stimulating discussion about whether robots can think. tree →
• Coffee has a stimulating effect on the brain. tree →
• Fertiliser works by stimulating plant growth. tree →
• Grandma finds crosswords stimulating. tree →
• The zoo gives the monkeys stimulating toys so they do not get bored. tree →

Note

As an adjective it means «interesting, thought-provoking», not «very fun» exactly. Comparative: «more stimulating». Opposite: «dull», «boring», «unstimulating».