rouse

1 of 4

verb

ˈrau̇z 

roused; rousing

transitive verb

1

a

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

roused the campers for a hike at dawn

b

: to stir up : excite

was roused to fury

2

archaic : to cause to break from cover

intransitive verb

1

: to become aroused : awaken

rousing late on a Saturday

2

: to become stirred

… before she could rouse from this insult …

—Grace Kinnicutt

rousement

ˈrau̇z-mənt 

noun

rouser noun

rouse

2 of 4

noun (1)

: an act or instance of rousing

especially : an excited stir

rouse

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

archaic : carousal

2

obsolete : drink, toast

rouser

4 of 4

noun (3)

rous·​er

ˈrau̇zə(r)

plural -s

: one that rouses: such as

a

: one that awakens or excites

b

: an implement for stirring a fermenting brew

c

: something superlative of its kind : humdinger

a real rouser of a storm

—Robert Louis Taylor

Synonyms of rouse

Verb

• wake
• awaken
• awake
• arouse

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

That time and effort has resulted in a rousing critical success — THR‘s review called it Laika’s masterpiece — with its commercial viability set to face a big test. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026

Prosecutors alleged Hart attempted to rouse Williamson by kicking his vehicle. — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2026

Carl lowers his head like a hitter hit by a pitch, then rouses himself and breaks into a stiff, elderly trot, shooting a salute over at whoever’s inside the tilted little guard hut. — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

The hee-haw of donkeys acts as the camp alarm, rousing us before sunrise each morning. — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026

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

Noun (3)

1611, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rouse

• blouse
• bouse
• douse
• dowse
• grouse
• haus
• louse
• mouse
• spouse
• youse
• alehouse
• almshouse

Kids Definition

rouse

verb

ˈrau̇z

roused; rousing

1

: awake entry 1 sense 1

2

: to make or become active : stir up