The Meaning of Stoked: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of stoked? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word stoked, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word stoked mean?

According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged English Dictionary and Dictionary, the word stoked is an adjective (pronounced ​stəʊkt) that means excited or exhilarated. It can also be used to mean high or intoxicated, though the former meaning of bring in a state of happiness is much more common. Someone who is stoked about something is very excited. For example, if someone gets into their first choice college, they might be stoked to attend. If someone wins free tickets to see their favorite band, they might be stoked to go see the concert. This is often used as a slang term in surfing and snowboarding communities, as well as skateboarders and on the internet via social media. A young child might be stokes for Christmas, or an optimist might be stokes for lots of things. Try using this word of the day or other new words in a sentence today!

Many different languages also contain words that mean stoked. You will notice that many of these words look similar to one another. These are called cognates, which are words that look, sound, and mean the same thing across different languages. Cognates are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin such as Latin or Greek. This list of translations for the word stoked is provided by Word Sense

  • Dutch: opgewonden‎
  • Luxembourgish: opgereegt‎
  • Norwegian: spent‎
  • Greek: ενθουσιασμένος‎
  • Portuguese: entusiasmado‎, empolgado‎
  • Danish: spændt‎
  • Malay: teruja‎
  • Swedish: upphetsad‎
  • Roman: ùzbūđēn‎
  • Italian: entusiasta‎
  • Korean: 흥분하다‎, 신나다‎
  • Russian: возбуждённый‎, взволно́ванный‎
  • Georgian: აღელვებული‎, აღგზნებული‎, აღტკინებული‎
  • Catalan: entusiasmat‎, emocionat‎
  • Maori: nawe‎, nanawe‎
  • French: excité‎, enthousiasmé‎
  • Hungarian: izgatott‎
  • Bulgarian: развълнуван‎, възбуден‎
  • Czech: vzrušený‎
  • Japanese: 興奮‎
  • Romanian: entuziasmat‎, înflăcărat‎, emoționat‎, exaltat‎
  • Spanish: entusiasmado‎, emocionado‎
  • Finnish: innostunut‎, innoissaan‎, kiihtynyt‎, tohkeissaan‎
  • Mandarin: 興奮‎, 兴奋‎ (xīngfèn), 激動‎, 激动‎ (jīdòng), 亢奮‎, 亢奋‎ (kàngfèn)
  • Turkish: heyecanlı‎, hevesli‎
  • Vietnamese: kích thích‎
  • German: erregt‎, aufgeregt‎
  • Arabic: مُتَحَمِّس‎
  • Hebrew: נִרְגָּשׁ‎ (nirgásh), מִתְרַגֵּשׁ‎ (mitragésh)

How can the word stoked be used in a sentence?

The word stoked can be used in many different contexts to refer to someone who is excited. This is considered a slang term, so it may not be appropriate to use in professional or formal use. If you are writing a business email or formal letter, or if you are in polite company, it might be better to use a synonym for the word stoked. In this example, Elise just asked someone to prom and is debriefing to her friend Hana.

Hana: How did it go?!

Elise: He said yes! I’m so stoked!

Hana: OMG, yay! I’m so happy for you.

Elise: Thanks! When are you going to ask Rick?

Hana: I don’t know, I’m so nervous. 

Here, Elise uses the word stoked to express to Hana that she is excited for prom and also excited that her date said yes to her proposal. In this next example, Elise received a letter from her top choice school.

Mom: Well, what does it say?

Elisa: Dear Elise, we are pleased to inform you that you have been granted admission!

Mom: Amazing! I’m so stoked for you, Elise! You should be very proud.

Here, Elise’s mom uses the word stoked to express her excitement.

What are synonyms and antonyms for the word stoked?

There are many different words that a person can use in place of the word stoked. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another given word or phrase. Synonyms are a great way to expand your English language vocabulary, and can help you avoid repeating the same word over and over again. This list of synonyms for the word stoked is provided by Thesaurus

  • exultant
  • on cloud nine
  • animated
  • atingle
  • elated
  • excited
  • intoxicated
  • euphoric
  • enraptured
  • transported
  • in seventh heaven
  • flying
  • touched
  • ecstatic
  • joyful
  • stirred
  • fired up
  • thrilled
  • in high spirits
  • jubilant
  • enchanted
  • proud
  • blissful
  • flying high
  • turned-on
  • set up
  • aroused
  • cheered
  • delighted
  • worked up
  • joyous
  • moved
  • overjoyed
  • high
  • looking good
  • inspired
  • elevated
  • roused
  • electrified
  • exhilarated
  • exalted
  • in heaven
  • puffed up
  • gleeful
  • hopped up

There are also numerous different words that mean the opposite of the word stoked. These are called antonyms, which are another quick and easy way to work on expanding your vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word stoked is also provided by Thesaurus

  • waveless
  • tranquil
  • emotionless
  • wimpy
  • what the hell
  • cool
  • at a standstill
  • slow
  • reposing
  • languid
  • cold
  • bland
  • pastoral
  • motionless
  • passive
  • flat
  • breathless
  • untouched
  • don’t give a damn
  • in order
  • callous
  • bucolic
  • still
  • quiescent
  • undisturbed
  • unfeeling
  • stormless
  • inactive
  • smooth
  • windless
  • restful
  • could care less
  • unresponsive
  • unmoved
  • breezeless
  • unruffled
  • couldn’t care less
  • unconcerned
  • indifferent
  • moony
  • soothing
  • insensible
  • blah
  • mild
  • halcyon
  • rural
  • low-key
  • hushed
  • impassive
  • pacific
  • serene
  • draggy
  • at peace
  • stoic
  • harmonious
  • unemotional
  • reposeful
  • uninterested
  • placid
  • laid-back
  • stolid

What is the origin of the word stoked?

According to Etymonline, the word stoked has been used since the 1680s to mean to stir up a fire literally. This is a backformation from the word stoker, which has been used since the 1650s to refer to a fire-poker. This word comes from the Dutch stoken meaning to stoke, from the Middle Dutch stoken meaning to poke or thrust. This is related to the word stoc which meant a stick or stump form the Proto-Germanic stok meaning to pierce or prick. This comes from the Proto-Indo-European steug meaning to push or knock. The word stoked has been used figuratively to mean to stir up feelings since the year 1837. Stoked was popularized as surfer slang in the United States (particularly western states and Southern California) around the late 1950s and early 1960s, but originally meant to eat or feed oneself around 1882. 

Overall, the word stoked is a slang adjective that means excited or exhilarated, and implies a sense of optimism and anticipation for something that is upcoming. This is used when someone is very thrilled about something. The word stoked can also mean high or intoxicated, but this is less commonly seen. 

Sources:

  1. https://www.wordsense.eu/stoked/
  2. https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/stoked
  3. https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/apathetic
  4. https://www.etymonline.com/word/stoke
  5. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoked
  6. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/stoked