rouse

[ rouz ]

/ raʊz /

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.

Nearby words

rous, rous sarcoma, rous sarcoma virus, rous, francis peyton, rous-associated virus, rouse, rouseabout, rousedness, rouser, rousing, rousingly

Origin of rouse

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

SYNONYMS FOR rouse

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

2 provoke, anger.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rouse ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR rouse

1, 2 lull, calm, pacify.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR rouse ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsrous·ed·ness

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

Synonym study

1, 2. See incite.

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

Examples from the Web for roused

The kneeling nuns, roused from their devout abstraction, made their reverence and went away.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He tried to calm me, but I was roused at last, and drawing my long knife barred his way.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our president was roused to speak out against guns by the massacre of 20 youngsters at Sandy Hook.
‘Safe Passage’ Signs Are a Signal That Chicago Has Surrendered|Michael Daly|August 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He no doubt could have been roused to fury if a real kafir contributed to his younger brother preferring a-h-h-h-h to Allah.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s Best Friend, Brendan Mess, an Unsolved Killing|Michael Daly|April 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Whether or not that signaled a higher-profile return to politics, it was a good exit line that roused the CPAC crowd.
Romney Apologizes for Defeat at CPAC, Says He’ll ‘Be Your Coworker’|Howard Kurtz|March 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He was roused from a meditation on these dire imaginings, by the sudden appearance of two figures at a turn of the lane.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 1(of 2)|Charles Dickens
Finally he roused himself, removed his leg from the horn, and straightened in the saddle.
The Heritage of the Hills|Arthur P. Hankins
But it was not alone this encroachment upon their lands, which roused their savage passions.
Life of Tecumseh, and of His Brother the Prophet|Benjamin Drake
Every one was enchanted with the song, and was roused by it to the greatest enthusiasm.
Immortal Songs of Camp and Field|Louis Albert Banks
The voice, speaking suddenly in his ear from behind, roused Archie from his reflections.
Indiscretions of Archie|P. G. Wodehouse

British Dictionary definitions for roused (1 of 2)

rouse

/ (raʊz) /

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

British Dictionary definitions for roused (2 of 2)

rouse

/ (raʊz) /

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 roused

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.

rouse

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

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

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of rouse

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for roused

British Dictionary definitions for roused (1 of 2)

rouse

verb

noun

Word Origin for rouse

British Dictionary definitions for roused (2 of 2)

rouse

noun archaic

Word Origin for rouse

Word Origin and History for roused

rouse