arouse

[ uh-rouz ]
See synonyms for: arousearousedarousesarousing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),a·roused, a·rous·ing.
  1. to stir to action or strong response; excite: to arouse a crowd;to arouse suspicion.

  2. to stimulate sexually.

  1. to awaken; wake up: The footsteps aroused the dog.

verb (used without object),a·roused, a·rous·ing.
  1. to awake or become aroused: At dawn the farmers began to arouse.

Origin of arouse

1
First recorded in 1585–95; a-3 + rouse1, modeled on arise

Other words for arouse

Opposites for arouse

Other words from arouse

  • a·rous·a·bil·i·ty [uh-rou-zuh-bil-i-tee] /əˌraʊ zəˈbɪl ɪ ti/ noun
  • a·rous·a·ble, adjective
  • a·rous·al [uh-rou-zuhl], /əˈraʊ zəl/, noun
  • a·rous·er, noun
  • re·a·rouse, verb, re·a·roused, re·a·rous·ing.
  • un·a·rous·a·ble, adjective
  • un·a·rous·ing, adjective

Words that may be confused with arouse

Words Nearby arouse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use arouse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for arouse

arouse

/ (əˈraʊz) /


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

  2. to awaken from sleep

Derived forms of arouse

  • arousal, noun
  • arouser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012