- present participle of rouse.
rousing
Americanadjective
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exciting; stirring.
a rousing song.
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active or vigorous.
a rousing campaign.
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brisk; lively.
a rousing business.
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exceptional; extraordinary.
a rousing lie.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rousing
Explanation
If you've ever been "roused" out of your sleep by someone, then you'll have no trouble seeing that rousing refers to anything that gets you going, up on your feet, energized. There's nothing like a rousing tournament of Twister to get you off your butt and into the game. Cheerleaders and rock stars are in the business of creating rousing spectacles. They want their audiences to get up on their feet, clap their hands, and get on the bandwagon. A good drinking song, too, is rousing, inspiring folks to clink their glasses, sway back and forth, and, well, keep drinking. Beethoven was a master of music that was thoughtful one minute and rousing the very next.
Vocabulary lists containing rousing
The Devil's Arithmetic
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100 SAT words Beginning with "R"
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"The Sporting Spirit"
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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.
Comprising over 300 works, spread over two levels of the Grand Palais, “Matisse: 1941-1954” is a rousing reminder that he went on making significant oil-on-canvas works until the early 1950s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
That’s not exactly the kind of rousing Churchillian attitude that fans back home are hoping for.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Most are bright, rousing listens, even if you don’t understand Spanish, because their chords reflect the Romantic classical music popular at the time of their composition in the 19th century.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
It was in early 2024 that he gave a rousing speech to the Commons that some even regarded as the speech of his life.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
WAYMER—The annual Pigeon Day shoot held here on Saturday, was declared a rousing success by the event’s organizers.
From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
