Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense rouses, present participle rousing, past tense, past participle roused
1. verb
If someone rouses you when you are sleeping or if you rouse, you wake up.
[literary]
Hilton roused him at eight-thirty by rapping on the door. [VERB noun]
When I put my hand on his, he stirs but doesn't quite rouse. [VERB]
2. verb
If you rouseyourself, you stop being inactive and start doing something.
She seemed to be unable to rouse herself to do anything. [VERB pronoun-reflexive to-infinitive]
He roused himself from his lazy contemplation of the scene beneath him. [V pron-refl + from]
3. verb
If something or someone rouses you, they make you very emotional or excited.
He did more to rouse the crowd there than anybody else. [VERB noun]
Ben says his father was good-natured, a man not quickly roused to anger or harshopinions. [beVERB-ed + to]
Synonyms: excite, move, arouse, stir More Synonyms of rouse
rousingadjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
...a rousing speech to the convention in support of the president.
Synonyms: lively, moving, spirited, exciting More Synonyms of rouse
4. verb
If something rouses a feeling in you, it causes you to have that feeling.
It roused a feeling of rebellion in him. [VERB noun]
This roused my interest in politics and I went to work for the Democrats. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: stimulate, provoke, arouse, incite More Synonyms of rouse
More Synonyms of rouse
rouse in British English1
(raʊz)
verb
1.
to bring (oneself or another person) out of sleep, unconsciousness, etc, or (of a person) to come to consciousness in this way
2. (transitive)
to provoke, stir, or excite
to rouse someone's anger
3. rouse oneself
4. hunting
to start or cause to start from cover
to rouse game birds
5. (intransitive) falconry
(of hawks) to ruffle the feathers and cause them to stand briefly on end (a sign of contentment)
6. (raʊs)(intransitive; foll byon) Australian
to speak scoldingly or rebukingly (to)
noun
7. mainly US another term for reveille
Derived forms
rousedness (ˈraʊzɪdnɪs)
noun
Word origin
C15 (in sense 5): origin obscure
rouse in British English2
(raʊz)
noun archaic
1.
an alcoholic drink, esp a full measure
2. another word for carousal
Word origin
C17: probably a variant of carouse (as in the phrase drink a rouse, erroneous for drink carouse); compare Danish drikke en rus to become drunk, German Rausch drunkenness
rouse in American English1
(raʊz)
verb transitiveWord forms: roused or ˈrousing
1.
to cause (game) to rise from cover, come out of a lair, etc.; stir up to flight or attack
2.
to stir up, as to anger or action; excite
3.
to cause to come out of a state of sleep, repose, unconsciousness, etc.; wake
4. Nautical
to pull with force, esp. by hand; haul
verb intransitive
5.
to rise from cover, etc.
said of game
6.
to come out of a state of sleep, repose, etc.; wake
7.
to become active
noun
8.
the act of rousing
9.
a violent stir
SIMILAR WORDS: stir
Derived forms
rouser (ˈrouser)
noun
Word origin
LME rowsen: orig. technical term in hawking & hunting, hence prob. < Anglo-Fr or OFr
rouse in American English2
(raʊz)
noun Archaic
1.
a drink of liquor
2.
a carousal
Word origin
aphetic for carouse (from mistaking drink carouse as drink a rouse)
Examples of 'rouse' in a sentence
rouse
He finally roused his wallowing body from the foam.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was a real poacher's goal - one that roused the crowd and the home side.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Few things rouse your anger more than arrangements that are underhand.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This chaotic week is bound to rouse feelings of vulnerability.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are games you might go behind and the crowd can rouse you.
The Sun (2010)
It was not just the crowd who appeared roused by his arrival.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He signed to them not to give vent to any cry of admiration that might rouse suspicion.
J.M. Barrie Peter Pan (1911)
Cabin crew should rouse sleeping passengers to encourage them to spend money.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
True, this may rouse feelings that you must defend the underdog.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This won't be easy and could rouse vulnerable feelings.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There has been no suggestion that the student roused any suspicions while in Britain.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Meanwhile, the camp that had been quietly rioting towards sleep was roused to a frenzy of wailing.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A Roomful of Birds - Scottish short stories 1990 (1990)
The hours were long and in the darkest stretches of the night they were often roused from sleep by a fresh demand from the bosses.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Ditto his opponent, who likes to punch the air and rouse the crowd when he wins an important leg or set.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
After its passage along corridors and down flights of stairs, it seemed far too faint to rouse a heavily sleeping man.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
His support for higher capital requirements and desire to make banks draw a line around their high street operations has also roused the ire of senior bankers.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A prolonged siege on the Hull goal roused the home crowd.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Almost as a cheerleader rousing the crowd at a game, the leader uses his or her influence to bring out the best in others.
Christianity Today (2000)
Some involve plans you've regarded as unchanging, others rouse unsettling feelings of vulnerability.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The music, which should be the key element, failed to rouse the crowd until the very end.
The Sun (2012)
Because honour is central to your values, the unfair situations you're facing are rousing a righteous ire.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is real, sometimes a balm and sometimes an irritant, a cause of solace but something that can also rouse you to anger or despair.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
rouse
British English: rouse VERB
If someone rouses you when you are sleeping or if you rouse, you wake up.
They roused him at eight-thirty by rapping on the door.
American English: rouse
Brazilian Portuguese: despertar
Chinese: 使醒来
European Spanish: despertar
French: réveiller
German: aufwecken
Italian: svegliare
Japanese: 起こす/目を覚ます
Korean: 깨우다
European Portuguese: despertar
Latin American Spanish: despertar
Chinese translation of 'rouse'
rouse
(rauz)
vt
(= wake up) (frm) 叫醒 (jiàoxǐng)
(= stir up) 使激动(動) (shǐ jīdòng)
to rouse o.s.醒来(來) (xǐnglái)
to rouse sb to anger激怒某人 (jīnù mǒurén)
1 (verb)
Definition
to wake up
She roused him at 8.30.
Synonyms
wake up
call
I'm late for work! Why didn't you call me earlier?
wake
get up
awaken
He was snoring when I awakened him.
knock up (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to provoke or excite
He did more to rouse the crowd than anybody else.
Synonyms
excite
I only take on work that excites me.
move
These stories surprised and moved me.
arouse
He apologized, saying this subject always aroused him.
stir
I was intrigued by him, stirred by his intellect.
disturb
I didn't want to disturb you.
provoke
anger
The decision to allow more construction angered the residents.
startle
animate
There was little about the game to animate the crowd.
prod
a tactic to prod the government into spending more on education
exhilarate
She felt both exhilarated and disturbed by what had just happened.
get going
agitate
The thought of them inheriting all these things agitated her.
inflame
They hold the rebels responsible for inflaming the villagers.
incite
whip up
galvanize
The appeal has galvanized them into taking positive action.
bestir
3 (verb)
It roused a feeling of rebellion in her.
Synonyms
stimulate
I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.
provoke
His comments have provoked a shocked reaction.
arouse
His work has aroused intense interest.
incite
He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.
instigate
The violence was instigated by ex-members of the secret police.
4 (verb)
Synonyms
rise
He rose slowly from his chair.
come to
wake
It was still dark when I woke.
get up
I got up and walked over to the door.
arouse
We were aroused from our sleep by a knocking at the door.
awaken
bestir
Additional synonyms
in the sense of agitate
Definition
to excite, disturb, or trouble
The thought of them inheriting all these things agitated her.
Synonyms
upset,
worry,
trouble,
disturb,
excite,
alarm,
stimulate,
distract,
rouse,
ruffle,
inflame,
incite,
unnerve,
disconcert,
disquiet,
fluster,
perturb,
faze,
work someone up,
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
arouse,
ferment
in the sense of anger
Definition
to make (someone) angry
The decision to allow more construction angered the residents.
Synonyms
enrage,
provoke,
outrage,
annoy,
offend,
excite,
irritate,
infuriate,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
incense,
fret,
gall,
madden,
exasperate,
nettle,
vex,
affront,
displease,
rile,
pique,
get on someone's nerves (informal),
antagonize,
get someone's back up,
piss someone off (taboo, slang),
put someone's back up,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
make someone's blood boil,
get in someone's hair (informal),
get someone's dander up (informal)
in the sense of animate
Definition
to make lively
There was little about the game to animate the crowd.
Synonyms
enliven,
encourage,
excite,
urge,
inspire,
stir,
spark,
move,
fire,
spur,
stimulate,
revive,
activate,
rouse,
prod,
quicken,
incite,
instigate,
kick-start (informal),
impel,
energize,
kindle,
embolden,
liven up,
breathe life into,
invigorate,
gladden,
gee up,
vitalize,
vivify,
inspirit
Nearby words of
rouse
rounded
roundly
roundup
rouse
rousing
rout
route
Synonyms of 'rouse'
rouse
Explore 'rouse' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arouse
He apologized, saying this subject always aroused him.
Synonyms
inflame,
move,
warm,
excite,
spur,
provoke,
animate,
prod,
stir up,
agitate,
quicken,
enliven,
goad,
foment
in the sense of arouse
Definition
to produce (a reaction, emotion, or response)
His work has aroused intense interest.
Synonyms
stimulate,
encourage,
inspire,
prompt,
spark,
spur,
foster,
provoke,
rouse,
stir up,
inflame,
incite,
instigate,
whip up,
summon up,
whet,
kindle,
foment,
call forth
in the sense of arouse
Definition
to awaken from sleep
We were aroused from our sleep by a knocking at the door.
Synonyms
awaken,
wake up,
rouse,
waken
in the sense of awaken
Definition
to awake
He was snoring when I awakened him.
Synonyms
awake,
wake,
wake up,
revive,
arouse,
rouse
in the sense of bestir
Definition
to cause (oneself) to become active
Synonyms
get going,
trouble,
stimulate,
motivate,
set off,
exert,
activate,
awaken,
animate,
rouse,
stir up,
incite,
actuate
in the sense of call
I'm late for work! Why didn't you call me earlier?
Synonyms
waken,
wake,
wake up,
arouse,
awaken,
rouse
in the sense of disturb
Definition
to inconvenience
I didn't want to disturb you.
Synonyms
interrupt,
trouble,
bother,
startle,
plague,
disrupt,
put out,
interfere with,
rouse,
hassle,
inconvenience,
pester,
intrude on,
butt in on
in the sense of exhilarate
Definition
to make (someone) feel lively and cheerful
She felt both exhilarated and disturbed by what had just happened.
Synonyms
excite,
delight,
cheer,
thrill,
stimulate,
animate,
exalt,
lift,
enliven,
invigorate,
gladden,
elate,
inspirit,
pep or perk up
in the sense of galvanize
Definition
to stimulate into action
The appeal has galvanized them into taking positive action.
Synonyms
stimulate,
encourage,
inspire,
prompt,
move,
fire,
shock,
excite,
wake,
stir,
spur,
provoke,
startle,
arouse,
awaken,
rouse,
prod,
jolt,
kick-start,
electrify,
goad,
impel,
invigorate,
put a bomb under (informal)
in the sense of get up
Definition
to get out of bed
I got up and walked over to the door.
Synonyms
arise (old-fashioned),
stand (up),
rise,
get to your feet
Additional synonyms
in the sense of incite
Definition
to stir up or provoke to action
He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.
Synonyms
provoke,
encourage,
drive,
excite,
prompt,
urge,
spur,
stimulate,
set on,
animate,
rouse,
prod,
stir up,
inflame,
instigate,
whip up,
egg on,
goad,
impel,
foment,
put up to,
agitate for or against
in the sense of inflame
Definition
to make angry or excited
They hold the rebels responsible for inflaming the villagers.
Synonyms
enrage,
stimulate,
provoke,
fire,
heat,
excite,
anger,
arouse,
rouse,
infuriate,
ignite,
incense,
madden,
agitate,
kindle,
rile,
foment,
intoxicate,
make your blood boil,
impassion
in the sense of instigate
Definition
to cause to happen
The violence was instigated by ex-members of the secret police.
Synonyms
provoke,
start,
encourage,
move,
influence,
prompt,
trigger,
spur,
stimulate,
set off,
initiate,
bring about,
rouse,
prod,
stir up,
get going,
incite,
kick-start,
whip up,
impel,
kindle,
foment,
actuate
in the sense of move
Definition
to arouse affection, pity, or compassion in
These stories surprised and moved me.
Synonyms
touch,
affect,
excite,
impress,
stir,
agitate,
disquiet,
make an impression on,
tug at your heartstrings (facetious)
in the sense of prod
Definition
to rouse (someone) to action
a tactic to prod the government into spending more on education
Synonyms
prompt,
move,
urge,
motivate,
spur,
stimulate,
rouse,
stir up,
incite,
egg on,
goad,
impel,
put a bomb under (informal)
in the sense of provoke
Definition
to bring about
His comments have provoked a shocked reaction.
Synonyms
rouse,
cause,
produce,
lead to,
move,
fire,
promote,
occasion (formal),
excite,
inspire,
generate,
prompt,
stir,
stimulate,
motivate,
induce,
bring about,
evoke,
give rise to,
precipitate,
elicit,
inflame,
incite,
instigate,
kindle,
foment,
call forth,
draw forth,
bring on or down
in the sense of stir
Definition
to excite or move (someone) emotionally
I was intrigued by him, stirred by his intellect.
Synonyms
stimulate,
move,
excite,
fire,
raise,
touch,
affect,
urge,
inspire,
prompt,
spur,
thrill,
provoke,
arouse,
awaken,
animate,
rouse,
prod,
quicken,
inflame,
incite,
instigate,
electrify,
kindle
in the sense of wake
Definition
to become conscious again or bring (someone) to consciousness again after a sleep