rouse

¹ American  

[rouz] / raʊz /

verb (used with object)

roused, rousing

1. to bring out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, fancied security, apathy, depression, etc..

   He was roused to action by courageous words.

   Synonyms:

   inflame, kindle, awaken, stimulate, animate, excite, stir, arouse

   Antonyms:

   pacify, calm, lull

2. to stir or incite to strong indignation or anger.

   Synonyms:

   anger, provoke

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

4. Nautical Now Rare. to pull by main strength; haul.

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verb (used without object)

roused, rousing

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

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

noun

1. a rousing.

2. a signal for rousing; reveille.

rouse ² American  

[rouz] / raʊz /

noun

1. Archaic. a carouse.

2. Obsolete. a bumper of liquor.

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rouse ¹ British  

/ ˈraʊzɪdnɪs, raʊz /

verb

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

2. (tr) to provoke, stir, or excite

   to rouse someone's anger

3. to become active or energetic

4. hunting to start or cause to start from cover

   to rouse game birds

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

6. to speak scoldingly or rebukingly (to)

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noun

1. another term for reveille

rouse ² British  

/ raʊz /

noun

1. an alcoholic drink, esp a full measure

2. another word for carousal

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Related Words

See incite.

Other Word Forms

• rousedness noun
• rouser noun
• unroused adjective

Etymology

Origin of rouse¹

First recorded in 1425–75 in sense “(of a hawk) to shake the feathers”; 1525–35 rouse ¹ for def. 3; origin uncertain

Origin of rouse²

First recorded in 1590–1600; perhaps variant of carouse ( drink carouse being wrongly analyzed as drink a rouse )

Example Sentences

If the Speaker mentions Jimmy Lai in his address to Parliament, as we hope he will, he will deserve a rousing ovation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Their popularity spread through Europe until, in Victorian tradition, they were used to rouse ladies after fainting spells.

From Los Angeles Times

January is an odd month in the art world, as it rouses itself from its holiday slumber but struggles to shake off the sleepiness of the past month.

From The Wall Street Journal

He focused on rousing fervor around what he called China’s growing “national power,” industrial and military prowess, as well as the Communist Party’s efforts to root out corruption and defend Chinese sovereignty.

From The Wall Street Journal

Music is a reward for efficient work in “Severance,” whether it be a Defiant Jazz dance break or a rousing marching band performance by the Choreography and Merriment department.

From Salon

Related Words

• agitate
• arouse
• awaken
• disturb
• fire up
• galvanize
• heighten
• incite
• inflame
• kindle
• provoke
• rile
• startle
• stir
• trigger
• wake up
• whip up
• work up