To stir to action or feeling

• work up

  1. a complete medical study of a patient, including a thorough examination, laboratory tests, a survey of the patient's case history, etc.
  2. an unwanted mark on a printed page caused by the rising of spacing material

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  1. a complete medical study of a patient, including a thorough examination, laboratory tests, a survey of the patient's case history, etc.
  2. an unwanted mark on a printed page caused by the rising of spacing material

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• trigger

  1. The lever pressed by the finger to discharge a firearm.
  2. A similar device used to release or activate a mechanism.
  3. An event that precipitates other events.

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  1. The lever pressed by the finger to discharge a firearm.
  2. A similar device used to release or activate a mechanism.
  3. An event that precipitates other events.

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• touch off

  1. (idiomatic) To start; to cause, especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed.

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  1. (idiomatic) To start; to cause, especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed.

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• stimulate

  1. To rouse to action or increased activity; excite:
  2. To increase temporarily the activity of (a body organ or system, for example).
  3. To cause to be interested or engaged:

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  1. To rouse to action or increased activity; excite:
  2. To increase temporarily the activity of (a body organ or system, for example).
  3. To cause to be interested or engaged:

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• spur

  1. A short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot and is used to urge a horse forward.
  2. An incentive:
  3. A spinelike process on the leg of some birds.

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  1. A short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot and is used to urge a horse forward.
  2. An incentive:
  3. A spinelike process on the leg of some birds.

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• set off

  1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To leave; to begin a journey or trip.
  2. (idiomatic) To begin; to cause; to initiate.
  3. (idiomatic) To cause to explode.

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  1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To leave; to begin a journey or trip.
  2. (idiomatic) To begin; to cause; to initiate.
  3. (idiomatic) To cause to explode.

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• provoke

  1. To incite to anger or resentment:
  2. To stir to action or feeling:
  3. To give rise to; bring about:

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  1. To incite to anger or resentment:
  2. To stir to action or feeling:
  3. To give rise to; bring about:

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• propel

  1. To cause to move forward or onward.
  2. To cause to develop or progress:

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  1. To cause to move forward or onward.
  2. To cause to develop or progress:

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• prompt

  1. Being on time; punctual.
  2. Carried out or performed without delay:
  3. To move to act; spur; incite:

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  1. Being on time; punctual.
  2. Carried out or performed without delay:
  3. To move to act; spur; incite:

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• prod

  1. To jab or poke, as with a pointed object.
  2. To goad to action; incite.
  3. A pointed object used to prod:

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  1. To jab or poke, as with a pointed object.
  2. To goad to action; incite.
  3. A pointed object used to prod:

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• prick

  1. The act of piercing or pricking.
  2. The sensation of being pierced or pricked.
  3. A persistent or sharply painful feeling of sorrow or remorse.

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  1. The act of piercing or pricking.
  2. The sensation of being pierced or pricked.
  3. A persistent or sharply painful feeling of sorrow or remorse.

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• pique

  1. A state of vexation caused by a perceived slight or indignity; a feeling of wounded pride.
  2. To cause to feel resentment or indignation.
  3. To provoke; arouse:

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  1. A state of vexation caused by a perceived slight or indignity; a feeling of wounded pride.
  2. To cause to feel resentment or indignation.
  3. To provoke; arouse:

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• move

  1. To change in position from one point to another:
  2. To follow a specified course:
  3. To change posture or position; stir:

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  1. To change in position from one point to another:
  2. To follow a specified course:
  3. To change posture or position; stir:

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• motivate

  1. To provide with an incentive or a reason for doing something; impel:
  2. To cause to be enthusiastic:

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  1. To provide with an incentive or a reason for doing something; impel:
  2. To cause to be enthusiastic:

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• instigate

  1. To initiate or bring about, often by inciting:
  2. To urge on; goad:

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  1. To initiate or bring about, often by inciting:
  2. To urge on; goad:

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• inspire

  1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
  2. To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion:
  3. To stimulate to action; motivate:

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  1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
  2. To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion:
  3. To stimulate to action; motivate:

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• inflame

  1. To arouse to passionate feeling or action:
  2. To make more violent; intensify:
  3. To cause (the skin) to redden or grow hot, as from strong emotion or stimulants.

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  1. To arouse to passionate feeling or action:
  2. To make more violent; intensify:
  3. To cause (the skin) to redden or grow hot, as from strong emotion or stimulants.

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• incite

  1. To provoke and urge on:

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  1. To provoke and urge on:

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• goad

  1. A long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals.
  2. An agent or means of prodding or urging; a stimulus.
  3. To prod or urge with or as if with a long pointed stick.

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  1. A long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals.
  2. An agent or means of prodding or urging; a stimulus.
  3. To prod or urge with or as if with a long pointed stick.

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• galvanize

  1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current.
  2. To arouse to awareness or action; spur:
  3. To coat (iron or steel) with rust-resistant zinc.

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  1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current.
  2. To arouse to awareness or action; spur:
  3. To coat (iron or steel) with rust-resistant zinc.

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• foment

  1. To arouse or incite (trouble, for example).
  2. To treat (the skin, for example) by fomentation.

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  1. To arouse or incite (trouble, for example).
  2. To treat (the skin, for example) by fomentation.

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• excite

  1. To arouse strong feeling in:
  2. To arouse (someone) sexually.
  3. To elicit or arouse (a reaction or emotion, for example):

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  1. To arouse strong feeling in:
  2. To arouse (someone) sexually.
  3. To elicit or arouse (a reaction or emotion, for example):

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• egg on

  1. (idiomatic) To encourage or coax a person to do something, especially something foolhardy or reckless.

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  1. (idiomatic) To encourage or coax a person to do something, especially something foolhardy or reckless.

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To set or keep going

• run

  1. To move swiftly on foot so that both or all feet are not on the ground during each stride.
  2. To retreat rapidly; flee:
  3. To depart; leave:

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  1. To move swiftly on foot so that both or all feet are not on the ground during each stride.
  2. To retreat rapidly; flee:
  3. To depart; leave:

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• propel

  1. To cause to move forward or onward.
  2. To cause to develop or progress:

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  1. To cause to move forward or onward.
  2. To cause to develop or progress:

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• move

  1. To change in position from one point to another:
  2. To follow a specified course:
  3. To change posture or position; stir:

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  1. To change in position from one point to another:
  2. To follow a specified course:
  3. To change posture or position; stir:

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• mobilize

  1. To assemble, prepare, or put into active service:
  2. To assemble, marshal, or coordinate for a purpose:
  3. To become mobilized:

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  1. To assemble, prepare, or put into active service:
  2. To assemble, marshal, or coordinate for a purpose:
  3. To become mobilized:

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• drive

  1. To push, propel, or press onward forcibly; urge forward:
  2. To repulse or put to flight by force or influence:
  3. To guide, control, or direct (a vehicle).

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  1. To push, propel, or press onward forcibly; urge forward:
  2. To repulse or put to flight by force or influence:
  3. To guide, control, or direct (a vehicle).

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• actuate

  1. To put into motion or action; activate:
  2. To cause to take action:

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  1. To put into motion or action; activate:
  2. To cause to take action:

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To urge or force

• compel

  1. To force (a person) to do something; drive or constrain:
  2. To necessitate or require, as by force of circumstance; demand:
  3. To exert a strong, irresistible force on; sway:

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  1. To force (a person) to do something; drive or constrain:
  2. To necessitate or require, as by force of circumstance; demand:
  3. To exert a strong, irresistible force on; sway:

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• animate

  1. To give life to; fill with life:
  2. To impart interest or zest to; enliven:
  3. To fill with spirit, courage, or resolution:

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  1. To give life to; fill with life:
  2. To impart interest or zest to; enliven:
  3. To fill with spirit, courage, or resolution:

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• instigate

  1. To initiate or bring about, often by inciting:
  2. To urge on; goad:

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  1. To initiate or bring about, often by inciting:
  2. To urge on; goad:

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• induce

  1. To lead or move, as to a course of action, by influence or persuasion.
  2. To bring about or stimulate the occurrence of; cause:
  3. To infer by inductive reasoning.

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  1. To lead or move, as to a course of action, by influence or persuasion.
  2. To bring about or stimulate the occurrence of; cause:
  3. To infer by inductive reasoning.

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To press

• lend one's weight to

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• nudge

  1. To push against gently, especially in order to gain attention or give a signal.
  2. To come close to; near:
  3. A gentle push.

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  1. To push against gently, especially in order to gain attention or give a signal.
  2. To come close to; near:
  3. A gentle push.

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• give someone a start

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• boom

  1. To make a deep, resonant sound.
  2. To grow, develop, or progress rapidly; flourish:
  3. To utter or give forth with a deep, resonant sound:

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  1. To make a deep, resonant sound.
  2. To grow, develop, or progress rapidly; flourish:
  3. To utter or give forth with a deep, resonant sound:

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• boost

  1. To raise or lift by pushing up from below.
  2. To increase; raise:
  3. To assist in further development or progress:

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  1. To raise or lift by pushing up from below.
  2. To increase; raise:
  3. To assist in further development or progress:

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• poke

  1. To push or jab at, as with a finger or an arm; prod.
  2. To make (a hole or pathway, for example) by or as if by prodding, elbowing, or jabbing:
  3. To push; thrust:

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  1. To push or jab at, as with a finger or an arm; prod.
  2. To make (a hole or pathway, for example) by or as if by prodding, elbowing, or jabbing:
  3. To push; thrust:

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• shove

  1. To push quickly, forcefully, or roughly:
  2. To put (something) roughly in a place:
  3. To push someone or something with force.

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  1. To push quickly, forcefully, or roughly:
  2. To put (something) roughly in a place:
  3. To push someone or something with force.

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• jog

  1. To move by shoving, bumping, or jerking; jar:
  2. To give a push or shake to; nudge:
  3. To rouse or stimulate as if by nudging:

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  1. To move by shoving, bumping, or jerking; jar:
  2. To give a push or shake to; nudge:
  3. To rouse or stimulate as if by nudging:

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• drive

  1. To push, propel, or press onward forcibly; urge forward:
  2. To repulse or put to flight by force or influence:
  3. To guide, control, or direct (a vehicle).

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  1. To push, propel, or press onward forcibly; urge forward:
  2. To repulse or put to flight by force or influence:
  3. To guide, control, or direct (a vehicle).

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• thrust forward

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• activate

  1. To set in motion; make active or more active.
  2. To organize or create (a military unit, for example):
  3. To treat (sewage) with aeration and bacteria to aid decomposition.

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  1. To set in motion; make active or more active.
  2. To organize or create (a military unit, for example):
  3. To treat (sewage) with aeration and bacteria to aid decomposition.

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• propel

  1. To cause to move forward or onward.
  2. To cause to develop or progress:

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  1. To cause to move forward or onward.
  2. To cause to develop or progress:

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• set-in-motion

  1. (idiomatic) to trigger movement, to get going

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  1. (idiomatic) to trigger movement, to get going

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• start

  1. To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking:
  2. To move on the initial part of a journey:
  3. To have a beginning; commence:

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  1. To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking:
  2. To move on the initial part of a journey:
  3. To have a beginning; commence:

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• prod

  1. To jab or poke, as with a pointed object.
  2. To goad to action; incite.
  3. A pointed object used to prod:

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  1. To jab or poke, as with a pointed object.
  2. To goad to action; incite.
  3. A pointed object used to prod:

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• actuate

  1. To put into motion or action; activate:
  2. To cause to take action:

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  1. To put into motion or action; activate:
  2. To cause to take action:

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• push

  1. To apply pressure against (something), especially for the purpose of moving it:
  2. To move (something) by exerting force against it; thrust or shove:
  3. To exert downward pressure on (a button or keyboard, for example); press.

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  1. To apply pressure against (something), especially for the purpose of moving it:
  2. To move (something) by exerting force against it; thrust or shove:
  3. To exert downward pressure on (a button or keyboard, for example); press.

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• move

  1. To change in position from one point to another:
  2. To follow a specified course:
  3. To change posture or position; stir:

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  1. To change in position from one point to another:
  2. To follow a specified course:
  3. To change posture or position; stir:

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