arouse

American  

[uh-rouz] / əˈraʊz /

verb (used with object)

arouses, present (3rd person singular) aroused, past participle, past arousing present participle

1. to stir to action or strong response; excite.

   to arouse a crowd;

   to arouse suspicion.

   Synonyms:

   fire, kindle, stimulate, instigate, provoke, incite, inspire, inspirit, animate

   Antonyms:

   calm

2. to stimulate sexually.

3. to awaken; wake up.

   The footsteps aroused the dog.

---

verb (used without object)

arouses, present (3rd person singular) aroused, past participle, past arousing present participle

1. to awake or become aroused.

   At dawn the farmers began to arouse.

arouse British  

/ əˈraʊz /

verb

1. (tr) to evoke or elicit (a reaction, emotion, or response); stimulate

2. to awaken from sleep

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• arousability
  noun
• rearouse
  verb
• arouser
  noun
• arousable
  adjective
• unarousable
  adjective
• unarousing
  adjective
• arousal
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have aroused
  perfect
• has aroused
  perfect 3rd person singular
• are arousing
  progressive
• have been arousing
  perfect progressive
• is arousing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• arouses
  singular 3rd person
• has been arousing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• arousing
  participle
• am arousing
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had aroused
  perfect
• was arousing
  progressive singular
• aroused
  simple
• aroused
  participle
• were arousing
  progressive plural
• had been arousing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will arouse
  simple
• will have aroused
  perfect
• will have been arousing
  perfect progressive
• will be arousing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of arouse

First recorded in 1585–95; a- ³ + rouse ¹, modeled on arise

Explanation

Although the verb arouse basically means "to wake up," it is usually not accomplished with an alarm clock. A patriotic song might arouse your love of country, and a new idea might arouse your imagination. The word comes from an Old French word meaning "stir up, awaken," and anything that arouses your mind or heart can awaken something in you; for example, the prospect of an exciting experience may arouse your sense of adventure. Arouse can also be used with negative feelings. A sneaky look might arouse your suspicion, or rejection might arouse a sense of bitterness. However, usually, arouse carries with it a sense of excitement, of bringing something to life.

Related Words

• awaken
• foment
• incite
• inflame
• instigate
• kindle
• provoke
• rouse
• spark
• spur
• stimulate
• stir
• whip up