arouse
Americanverb (used with object)
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arouses,
present (3rd person singular)
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aroused,
past participle, past
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arousing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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arouses,
present (3rd person singular)
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aroused,
past participle, past
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arousing
present participle
verb
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(tr) to evoke or elicit (a reaction, emotion, or response); stimulate
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to awaken from sleep
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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arousabilitynoun
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arousalnoun
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arousernoun
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rearouseverb
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arousableadjective
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unarousableadjective
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unarousingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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arousesimple
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arousessimple
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have arousedperfect
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has arousedperfect
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am arousingprogressive
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are arousingprogressive
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is arousingprogressive
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have been arousingperfect progressive
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has been arousingperfect progressive
Past
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arousedsimple
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had arousedperfect
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was arousingprogressive
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were arousingprogressive
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had been arousingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of arouse
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.
Vocabulary lists containing arouse
Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 5
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Travels with Charley
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The Ch'i-lin Purse
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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.
See Examples For:
"When you see a student who clearly struggled with the language and they submit an essay which William Shakespeare would have been proud of, then immediately that's going to arouse suspicion."
From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2025
Some lawyers who have worked on crypto-treasury deals say information leaks can not only arouse insider trading suspicions but also actually be harmful for pricing transactions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2025
“Depositing the money all at once would probably arouse less suspicion with the bank than making a continuing series of deposits just under $10,000,” says Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2025
Hwang uses it to fill time and arouse suspicion, but there is little narrative heft from this plotline until the finale.
From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2024
“That’s a discipline that must arouse the interest of kings, politicians, men of business.”
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Instead he creates drama or a crisis, arouses a counterforce, attacks this new enemy, experiences fear—will my luck hold?—defeats the new enemy, feels relief, relaxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Dr Peel says the fact that existing nuclear sites generally have "miles of empty land around them" means that anyone in the vicinity arouses suspicion.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2025
Information that connects with group identities or familiar narratives—or that arouses emotion—can be particularly persuasive….
From Salon ● Apr. 21, 2023
He cited Philippine national hero Jose Rizal’s description of justice “as the foremost virtue of the civilizing races. It subdues the barbarous nations while injustice arouses the weakest.”
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 2, 2023
“Here it is. It says, ‘a marvel; that which arouses awe, astonishment, surprise, or admiration.’”
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
Just like “The Pitt,” “Widow’s Bay” has aroused the kind of obsessive fandom that leads to Emmy glory.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Because of the suspicions aroused by the complaints, she said, she lost a job.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
What angered Scots-Irish Americans most was elite condescension, which aroused the populist uprising that put Jackson in the White House.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026
Stephen's reactions may not have aroused suspicion, but Hugo's did.
From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026
And yet all were touched; the song had aroused us all.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
What is certain is that “Now I Surrender” stubbornly fights against the kind of engagement its author is preternaturally good at arousing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
"The continuation of the trial is tearing us apart from within, arousing fierce divisions, intensifying rifts," the premier said in a video statement, referring to the split between his supporters and opponents.
From Barron's ● Nov. 30, 2025
Their only sin, as things stand, is arousing disgust.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025
Mr Hastings said her peculiar nature meant she could say things without arousing much suspicion.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2024
At such a time of night, one's footsteps descending the back staircase are bound to be conspicuous and no doubt they were responsible for arousing Miss Kenton.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
