Synonyms

arouse

American

[uh-rouz] / əˈraʊz /

verb (used with object)

aroused, arousing

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
to stimulate sexually.
to awaken; wake up.

The footsteps aroused the dog.

verb (used without object)

aroused, arousing

to awake or become aroused.

At dawn the farmers began to arouse.

arouse British

/ əˈraʊz /

verb

(tr) to evoke or elicit (a reaction, emotion, or response); stimulate
to awaken from sleep

"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

Other Word Forms

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.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Brave master of each warlike art, Arouse thee and perform thy part.

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Griffith, Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin)

Arouse thee, dear father, arouse thee, 'tis I!

From Verses of Feeling and Fancy by MacKeracher, Wm. M.

Arouse Thee, God of Hosts, There 'mid Thy glorious ghosts, So high and holy!

From Kentucky Poems by Cawein, Madison J.

All who in Freedom's cause delight, Arouse, arouse, arouse!

From The Liberty Minstrel by Clark, George W.

Arouse, stir, stimulate the pupils and fill with a burning zeal to study history.

From A Guide to Methods and Observation in History Studies in High School Observation by Davis, Calvin Olin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023