stoke

verb

ˈstōk How to pronounce stoke (audio)
stoked; stoking
Synonyms of stoke

transitive verb

1
: to poke or stir up (a fire, flames, etc.) : supply with fuel
2
: to feed abundantly
3
: to increase the activity, intensity, or amount of
… limiting the number of cars available … will help stoke demand for the car.—Keith Naughton

intransitive verb

: to stir up or tend a fire (as in a furnace) : supply a furnace with fuel

Synonyms of stoke

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Examples of stoke in a Sentence

The engineer stoked the coals. The new ad campaign has helped to stoke sales. Poor revenue figures have stoked concerns about possible layoffs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many of his views drew outrage from many who argued the racist and hateful language was an attempt to stoke tensions on campus and should not be platformed by colleges and universities. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Unitree’s recent slump has raised concerns about how Beijing may boost emerging strategic sectors without stoking a speculative frenzy. — Anniek Bao,elaine Yu, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 In November, an official with the World Health Organization directly tied to the outbreak to an anti-vaccine group stoking fear on social media, without directly naming CHD. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026 Social media in South Korea have been filled with messages stoking fears about safety on Jeju, with some spreading groundless rumors and deriding the island. — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stoke

Word History

Etymology

Dutch stoken; akin to Middle Dutch stuken to push

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stoke was in 1683

Rhymes for stoke

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Browse Nearby Words

stoiter
stoke
stoked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoke. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stoke

verb
ˈstōk How to pronounce stoke (audio)
stoked; stoking
1
: to stir up or tend (as a fire)
2
: to supply (as a furnace) with fuel
3
: to feed plentifully
stoker noun

Medical Definition

stoke

noun
ˈstōk How to pronounce stoke (audio)
: the cgs unit of kinematic viscosity being that of a fluid which has a viscosity of one poise and a density of one gram per cubic centimeter

More from Merriam-Webster on stoke

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stoke

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