1. Cause to be alert and energetic
   "Coffee and tea stimulate me"; "This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate";
   - arouse, brace, energize, energise [Brit], perk up, stir
    
2. Bring about an action, state, or response
   "The medicine stimulated his appetite";
   - induce, cause, have, get, make
    
3. Act as a stimulant
   "This play stimulates"; "The book stimulated her imagination";
   - excite
    
4. Cause to occur rapidly
   "The coach stimulated the team to perform better";
   - induce, rush, hasten, accelerate, speed up
    
5. Promote growth or development of
   "Fertilizer stimulates plant growth"
    
6. Provide the needed stimulus for
   "The documentary stimulated a heated debate on social media";
   - provoke
    
7. Arouse feelings in
   "stimulate my appetite";
   - excite, stir

Derived forms: stimulated, stimulates, stimulating

Type of: act, affect, bear on, bear upon, challenge, effect, effectuate, impact, move, sensitise [Brit], sensitize, set up

Encyclopedia: Stimulate