rousing

[ rou-zing ]
/ ˈraʊ zɪŋ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rousing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

exciting; stirring: a rousing song.
active or vigorous: a rousing campaign.
brisk; lively: a rousing business.
exceptional; extraordinary: a rousing lie.

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Origin of rousing

First recorded in 1635–45; rouse1 + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM rousing

rous·ing·ly, adverbnon·rous·ing, adjectiveun·rous·ing, adjective

Words nearby rousing

rous sarcoma virus, rous-associated virus, rouse, rouseabout, rouser, rousing, rousseau, rousseau, jean-jacques, rousseauism, roussel, roussillon

Definition for rousing (2 of 2)

rouse1
[ rouz ]
/ raʊz /

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

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

1
1480–90 in sense “(of a hawk) to shake the feathers”; 1525–35 for def 3; origin uncertain

synonym study for rouse

1, 2. See incite.

OTHER WORDS FROM rouse

rous·ed·ness [rou-zid-nis] /ˈraʊ zɪd nɪs/, nounrous·er, nounun·roused, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to rousing

zippy, enthusiastic, spirited, bouncy, lively, chirpy, busy, refreshing, brisk, alert, dashing, active, animated, stimulating, bustling, buzzing, astir, bright, buoyant, energetic

Example sentences from the Web for rousing

British Dictionary definitions for rousing (1 of 3)

rousing
/ (ˈraʊzɪŋ) /

adjective

tending to rouse or excite; lively, brisk, or vigorousa rousing chorus

Derived forms of rousing

rousingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for rousing (2 of 3)

rouse1
/ (raʊz) /

verb

noun

mainly US another term for reveille

Derived forms of rouse

rousedness (ˈraʊzɪdnɪs), noun

Word Origin for rouse

C15 (in sense 5): origin obscure

British Dictionary definitions for rousing (3 of 3)

rouse2
/ (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