definitions
  • synonyms

arouse

[ uh-rouz ]
/ əˈraʊz /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR arouse ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), a·roused, a·rous·ing.

to stir to action or strong response; excite: to arouse a crowd; to arouse suspicion.
to stimulate sexually.
to awaken; wake up: The footsteps aroused the dog.

verb (used without object), a·roused, a·rous·ing.

to awake or become aroused: At dawn the farmers began to arouse.

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RELATED WORDS

awaken, rouse, stir, incite, instigate, inflame, kindle, spark, provoke, spur, stimulate, foment, thrill, enliven, warm, move, goad, agitate, alert, electrify

Nearby words

around the bend, around the corner, around the world in eighty days, around-the-clock, arousal, arouse, arp, arp, jean, arpa, arpad, arpanet

Origin of arouse

1585–95; a-3 + rouse1, modeled on arise
SYNONYMS FOR arouse
1 animate; inspirit, inspire; incite, provoke, instigate; stimulate, kindle, fire.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR arouse ON THESAURUS.COM
Related forms
Can be confusedarose arouse
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for arouse

British Dictionary definitions for arouse

arouse

/ (əˈraʊz) /

verb

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

Word Origin and History for arouse

arouse

v.

1590s, "awaken" (transitive), from a- (1) "on" + rouse. Related: Aroused; arousing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper