rousing

adjective

rous·​ing ˈrau̇-ziŋ 

1

a

: giving rise to excitement : stirring

a rousing speech

b

: brisk, lively

… the good, old-fashioned custom of evening weddings with a rousing dance afterwards …

—Lucy Maud Montgomery

2

: exceptional, superlative

a rousing success

rousingly adverb

Synonyms of rousing

• breathtaking
• exciting
• thrilling
• interesting
• inspiring
• intriguing

Examples of rousing in a Sentence

She was met with a rousing reception.

a rousing rendition of our national anthem

Recent Examples on the Web

After a rousing start (setlist below), what followed was a vivid, loving tribute to all different flavors and musical genres of Latin culture, as loaded with subtext as Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl headlining performance. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026

One of the most rousing action-comedies ever made, and one that possesses an undeniable heft in its practical effects, The General builds beautifully off of its premise to create a handful of cinema’s most dizzying, entertaining chase sequences. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026

The Masters got off to a rousing start in Thursday’s first round, with defending champion Rory McIlroy claiming a share of the lead with a 5-under 67. —Rod Beard, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026

As Assad walked off the mound in the sixth, the large contingent of Cubs fans who showed up to Tropicana Field gave him a rousing ovation, thankful for his performance. —Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for rousing

• browsing
• housing
• rehousing
• arousing
• carousing
• espousing
• warehousing

Kids Definition

rousing

adjective

rous·​ing

ˈrau̇-ziŋ

1

: having the power to rouse one

sang a rousing hymn

a rousing speech

2

: very good : exceptional

a rousing business