rouse

1 of 3

verb

ˈrau̇z 

roused; rousing

transitive verb

1

a

: to arouse from or as if from sleep or repose : awaken

b

: to stir up : excite

was roused to fury

2

archaic : to cause to break from cover

intransitive verb

1

: to become aroused : awaken

2

: to become stirred

rousement

ˈrau̇z-mənt 

noun

rouser noun

rouse

2 of 3

noun (1)

: an act or instance of rousing

especially : an excited stir

rouse

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

archaic : carousal

2

obsolete : drink, toast

Synonyms

Verb

• arouse
• awake
• awaken
• knock up [British]
• wake
• waken

Examples of rouse in a Sentence

Verb

I've been unable to rouse her.

I was so tired I could barely rouse myself to prepare dinner.

These animals are dangerous when roused.

She was roused to anger by their indifference.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sure, the challenges were a bit blah, but still, a rousing and triumphant success. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

The buying spree got off to a rousing start last week. —Megan Poinski, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

The English actor Douglas Hodge, who won a Tony for his performance as Albin in the 2010 Broadway revival, delivered the number like a stark cry from the heart, without neglecting the rousing life-affirming place from which the lyrics and music emerge. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2024

Carlson asked, rousing the crowd to a libidinal frenzy. —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to shake the feathers

Noun (2)

alteration (from misdivision of to drink carouse) of carouse

First Known Use

Verb

1531, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun (1)

1764, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1593, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

rouse

verb

ˈrau̇z

roused; rousing

1

: awake entry 1 sense 1

2

: to make or become active : stir up