arousal

noun

arous·​al ə-ˈrau̇-zəl How to pronounce arousal (audio)
plural arousals
1
: the act of arousing someone or something
arousal from sleep
This belated arousal of the hunting instinct seemed to make almost another man of him.Jack London
: the state of being aroused
His work with animals had implicated adrenaline and noradrenaline in emotional arousal and memory.Daniel Goleman
2
: a state of physiological and psychological excitation caused by sexual contact or other erotic stimulation
Studies show 60% of patients taking the drugs experience some form of sexual dysfunction, ranging from loss of desire to problems with arousal and an inability to reach orgasm.Tara Parker-Pope

Examples of arousal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For the Valentine’s season, Alice Mushrooms recently revealed its Happy Endings chocolate for arousal and pleasure, the latest in their line of sweet bites promising everything from delicious flavor to health benefits. Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Instead, Health Nutrition Natural's Women's Libido Booster is formulated with natural ingredients that have been carefully selected to increase female arousal, boost energy levels, and enhance mood. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2023 On the other hand, Elm & Rye focuses on enhancing libido by using natural ingredients that stimulate desire and arousal. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023 Adrafinil may stimulate the production of orexin, a neuropeptide that is involved in regulating wakefulness and arousal [7]. The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Aug. 2023 These features have the tendency to increase arousal and anxiety, which leads to a decrease in sleep quantity and quality. Emily P.g. Erickson, Health, 11 Dec. 2023 Unlike traditional erectile dysfunction drugs, this revolutionary remedy works through enhancing the natural arousal mechanisms within a woman's body. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023 This means that engaging with a frightening simulation can serve as practice for controlling arousal and may be generalizable to other, real-world stressful situations, helping people bolster their overall resilience. Athena Aktipis, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2023 This correlates to arousal signals like stress, or other states of high emotion. Charlotte Hu, Popular Science, 20 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arousal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

arouse + -al entry 2

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arousal was in 1842

Dictionary Entries Near arousal

Cite this Entry

“Arousal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arousal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

arousal

noun
arous·​al ə-ˈrau̇-zəl How to pronounce arousal (audio)
1
a
: the act of arousing
arousal from sleep
b
: the state of being aroused
specifically : responsiveness to stimuli
… cells of the locus coeruleus, a brain center involved in maintaining attention and arousalScience
2
: a state of physiological and psychological excitation caused by sexual contact or other erotic stimulation
Studies show 60% of patients taking the drugs experience some form of sexual dysfunction, ranging from loss of desire to problems with arousalTara Parker-Pope, The Wall Street Journal
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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