rouse

[rouz]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rouse ON THESAURUS.COM

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

to bring out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, fancied security, apathy, depression, etc.: He was roused to action by courageous words.

to stir or incite to strong indignation or anger.

to cause (game) to start from a covert or lair.

Nautical. to pull by main strength; haul.

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

to come out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, apathy, depression, etc.

to start up from a covert or lair, as game.

noun

a rousing.

a signal for rousing; reveille.

Origin of rouse

1480–90 in sense “(of a hawk) to shake the feathers”; 1525–35 for def 3; origin uncertain

Related formsrous·ed·ness

[rou-zid-nis] /ˈraʊ zɪd nɪs/, nounrous·er, nounun·roused, adjective

Synonyms for rouse

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rouse ON THESAURUS.COM

1. arouse, stir, excite, animate, stimulate, awaken, kindle, inflame, fire. 2. provoke, anger.

Synonym study

1, 2. See incite.

Antonyms for rouse

1, 2. lull, calm, pacify.

rouse

[rouz]

noun

Archaic. a carouse.

Obsolete. a bumper of liquor.

Origin of rouse

1595–1605; perhaps variant of carouse (drink carouse being wrongly analyzed as drink a rouse)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for rouse

arouse, awake, awaken, stir, disturb, provoke, trigger, incite, rile, agitate, inflame, startle, heighten, galvanize, kindle, rise, call, raise, urge, move

Examples from the Web for rouse

Contemporary Examples of rouse

At last, a cause that could rouse it to action: defending the honor of campaign contributors.
How Obama Can Use Executive Actions to Improve Our Democracy
Michael Waldman
April 18, 2014
They startle viewers, rouse viewers, occasionally put off and occasionally turn on viewers.
‘Veep’ Is a F*@king Masterclass in Cursing
Kevin Fallon
April 7, 2014
But among Millennials, there are fewer white, Christian non-immigrants to rouse.
The Rise of the New New Left
Peter Beinart
September 12, 2013
He had to rouse himself and run for his life through the hospital, hiding with the terrified nurses behind locked doors.
Mumbai on Edge With Shiv Sena Founder Bal Thackeray Ill
Dilip D’Souza
November 16, 2012
The ex-senator tells Howard Kurtz that Congress needs to rouse itself to raise taxes and slash spending.
Alan Simpson Plans ‘Cialis Solution’ to Get Congress to Slash Debt
Howard Kurtz
June 14, 2012

Historical Examples of rouse

They'll take the telephone and rouse the towns all along the mountains.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
If she could rouse herself to try to save that girl it would be the best thing she could do.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
I would have sent you word, but I did not want to rouse you.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
But Felicien had discovered one way in which he could rouse her, and he took advantage of it.
The Dream
Emile Zola
He was as a sportsman, for it would not do to rouse suspicion.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for rouse

rouse

verb

to bring (oneself or another person) out of sleep, unconsciousness, etc, or (of a person) to come to consciousness in this way

(tr) to provoke, stir, or exciteto rouse someone's anger

rouse oneself to become active or energetic

hunting to start or cause to start from coverto rouse game birds

(intr) falconry (of hawks) to ruffle the feathers and cause them to stand briefly on end (a sign of contentment)

(raʊs) (intr foll by on) Australian to speak scoldingly or rebukingly (to)

noun

mainly US another term for reveille

Derived Formsrousedness (ˈraʊzɪdnɪs), noun

Word Origin for rouse

C15 (in sense 5): origin obscure

rouse

noun archaic

an alcoholic drink, esp a full measure

another word for carousal

Word Origin for rouse

C17: probably a variant of carouse (as in the phrase drink a rouse, erroneous for drink carouse); compare Danish drikke en rus to become drunk, German Rausch drunkenness

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 rouse

mid-15c., intransitive probably from Anglo-French or Old French reuser, ruser, originally used in English of hawks shaking the feathers of the body, but like many hawking terms it is of obscure origin. Figurative meaning "to stir up, provoke to activity" is from 1580s; that of "awaken" is first recorded 1590s. Related: Roused; rousing.