reveille

American  

[rev-uh-lee, ri-val-ee] / ˈrɛv ə li, rɪˈvæl i /

noun

1. a signal, as of a drum or bugle, sounded early in the morning to awaken military personnel and to alert them for assembly.

2. a signal to arise.

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reveille British  

/ rɪˈvælɪ /

noun

1. a signal, given by a bugle, drum, etc, to awaken soldiers or sailors in the morning

2. the hour at which this takes place

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Etymology

Origin of reveille

1635–45; < French réveillez, plural imperative of réveiller to awaken, equivalent to r ( e ) - re- + éveiller, Old French esveillier ≪ Latin ēvigilāre to watch, be vigilant ( ē- e- ¹ + vigilāre to watch; see vigil)

Explanation

If you've ever heard an early morning bugle alongside a flag being raised, you know exactly what reveille sounds like. It's meant to wake everyone up in a patriotic way. This word is a modification of French imperative réveillez, which means wake up, or "Awaken!" Appropriately, the noun reveille refers to a bugle call meant to accomplish exactly this. Reveille most often occurs at sunrise in a military encampment or base when a bugler plays a familiar tune to wake up the military personnel.

Example Sentences

The implied message may as well be a reveille blare: Nothing so minor should get in the way of anyone’s aspirations to serve their country.

From Salon • Oct. 10, 2025

From reveille to lights-out, the boy trumpeters sounded calls for all activities of the day.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2021

After reveille just after dawn, an hour is allowed for exercise and showers.

From Reuters • Dec. 16, 2021

No longer must armies of professionals arbitrarily be rousted at daybreak, like groggy recruits heeding a bugle blowing reveille.

From New York Times • Aug. 25, 2018

In the morning he awakened on a split second and lay waiting for reveille.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck