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

The Olympic flame first arrived on France from Greece on May 8, marked by a rousing ceremony in the port city of Marseille, and has been touring about the country ever since. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 July 2024

The ultimate underdog, Rocky takes on colorful antagonists (Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago) and finds himself constantly in rousing fights. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024

The day after that debate in Atlanta, Biden addressed his most vocal critics during a rousing speech in North Carolina. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 21 July 2024

On the first count, Vance delivered a capable if not exactly rousing speech. —Aaron Blake, Washington Post, 18 July 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