rouse
1 of 3verb
ˈrau̇z 
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
ˈrau̇z-mənt
noun rouser noun
rouse
2 of 3noun (1)
: an act or instance of rousing
especially : an excited stir
rouse
3 of 3noun (2)
1
archaic : carousal
2
obsolete : drink, toast
Synonyms
Verb
- arouse
- awake
- awaken
- knock up [British]
- wake
- waken
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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.
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
Kids Definition
rouse
verb
ˈrau̇z
roused; rousing
1
: awake entry 1 sense 1
Lucy was such a light sleeper that stepping on a creaky floorboard … could easily rouse her.
Kevin Henkes, Olive's Ocean
Kevin Henkes, Olive's Ocean2
: to stir up : excite
The idea roused great interest.
rouse
verb
1
as in to wake
to cause to stop sleeping the honking horns roused her from a deep sleep Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- wake
- awaken
- awake
- arouse
- waken
- stir
- roust
- revive
- provoke
- reawaken
- knock up
- stimulate
- excite
- raise
- disturb
- bestir
- rout
- agitate
- rewake
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lull
- hypnotize
- mesmerize
2
as in to awake
to cease to be asleep I finally roused around noon, after going to bed very late Synonyms & Similar Words
- awake
- wake
- awaken
- waken
- arouse
- rise
- watch
- roll out
- reawaken
- arise
- revive
- stir
- uprise
- get up
- turn out
- rewake
- shift
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sleep
- slumber
- doze
- rest
- nod
- nap
- snooze
- catnap
- turn in
- drop off
- bed (down)
- retire
- couch
- conk (off or out)
- flop
- doss (down)
- kip (down)
- lie up
- sleep in
- oversleep
- sack out
