rouse

1 of 3

verb

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 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
A little more than five years ago, Vice President Mike Pence gave a rousing speech in Alabama, setting a goal of landing humans on the Moon by 2024 and laying the political groundwork for the Artemis Program and all that has followed. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025 If anything might rouse him now The kind old sun will know. Jack Sheehan september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025 Patients can be briefly roused—for example, to ask them to roll over or change a dressing—before falling unconscious again. Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025 Another exquisite set from Warner Archive following this year’s earlier Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, and Elizabeth Taylor collections, this six-film package provides a rousing crash course in the work of one of the greatest action stars of his era. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rouse

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of rouse was in 1531

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rouse. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

rouse

verb
ˈrau̇z
roused; rousing
1
2
: to make or become active : stir up

More from Merriam-Webster on rouse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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