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rousted; rousting; rousts
: to drive (as from bed) roughly or unceremoniously
Example Sentences
The soldiers were rousted from their beds before sunrise.
Recent Examples on the Web
Advocates for the homeless ardently protest efforts to roust the encampments, arguing that people have nowhere else to go.
—
Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2022
On Wednesday night, just as the curlers squeezed in one last practice run, an announcer, joined by the plump panda that serves as the Olympic mascot, tried to roust the modest assembly of spectators sprinkled throughout the stands.
—New York Times, 12 Feb. 2022
The officers rushed to roust nearby residents out of their homes and clear the avenue.
—New York Times, 1 Jan. 2022
The flight attendant had noticed our stalemate and offered to roust the man from my seat, but the situation felt too combustible to me, and 25C like too stupid a hill on which to die.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2021
Most became involved to roust Trump from office — nearly 2 out of 3 voters rejected him in favor of Democrat Joe Biden.
—Joe Garofoli, SFChronicle.com, 18 Jan. 2021
The city had been on edge after prosecutors declined to bring charges in 2014 against the officer who killed Dontre Hamilton, who had been asleep on a park bench when police were called to roust him.
—Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 27 Aug. 2020
State troopers have repeatedly tried to roust the demonstrators, swooping in on late-night raids to seize their belongings and to arrest the activists.
—Tim Elfrink, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2020
Others have been rousted from their beds in the middle of the night in U.S. government shelters and put on planes out of the country without any notification to their families.
—Caitlin Dickerson, New York Times, 20 May 2020
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Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2022
On Wednesday night, just as the curlers squeezed in one last practice run, an announcer, joined by the plump panda that serves as the Olympic mascot, tried to roust the modest assembly of spectators sprinkled throughout the stands.
—New York Times, 12 Feb. 2022
The officers rushed to roust nearby residents out of their homes and clear the avenue.
—New York Times, 1 Jan. 2022
The flight attendant had noticed our stalemate and offered to roust the man from my seat, but the situation felt too combustible to me, and 25C like too stupid a hill on which to die.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2021
Most became involved to roust Trump from office — nearly 2 out of 3 voters rejected him in favor of Democrat Joe Biden.
—Joe Garofoli, SFChronicle.com, 18 Jan. 2021
The city had been on edge after prosecutors declined to bring charges in 2014 against the officer who killed Dontre Hamilton, who had been asleep on a park bench when police were called to roust him.
—Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 27 Aug. 2020
State troopers have repeatedly tried to roust the demonstrators, swooping in on late-night raids to seize their belongings and to arrest the activists.
—Tim Elfrink, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2020
Others have been rousted from their beds in the middle of the night in U.S. government shelters and put on planes out of the country without any notification to their families.
—Caitlin Dickerson, New York Times, 20 May 2020
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'roust.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
alteration of rouse entry 1
First Known Use
1658, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near roust
Cite this Entry
“Roust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roust. Accessed 14 Jan. 2023.
More from Merriam-Webster on roust
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for roust
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