1 B1 neutral
To add fuel to a fire or furnace to make it burn more intensely.
"He stoked up the campfire to keep everyone warm through the cold night."
separable
stoke up
B2 neutral separable transitive
To intensify a fire by adding fuel, or to intensify feelings, passions, or situations.
In plain English
To make a fire bigger by adding more fuel, or to make feelings or problems get much stronger.
What does "stoke up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To intensify emotions, fears, or tensions, often deliberately.
"The tabloid headlines stoked up public anxiety about crime."
separable
3 C1 idiomatic informal
To eat or drink a lot in order to prepare for physical activity (informal).
"The cyclists stoked up on pasta the night before the long race."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To add coal or fuel to a fire or furnace to make it burn more strongly.
Actually means
To make a fire bigger by adding more fuel, or to make feelings or problems get much stronger.
Usage tip
Derived from 'stoking' a furnace or fire. Commonly used figuratively to describe intensifying emotions like anger, fear, or enthusiasm. Also used literally for fires and furnaces.
Words that pair with "stoke up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
fire furnace fears anger tensions enthusiasm
How to conjugate "stoke up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
stoke up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stokes up
he/she/it
Past simple
stoked up
yesterday
Past participle
stoked up
have + pp
-ing form
stoking up
continuous
Hear "stoke up" in the wild
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Keep exploring
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