- present participle of rouse.
rousing
Americanadjective
-
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.
The upgrades aren’t exactly rousing endorsements of how those companies are positioned in the AI era but are rather expressive of DiFucci’s view that the shares now look more attractive after their dramatic selloffs.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 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
In a rousing post-fight interview, Gaethje compared his underdog status to Americans who once fought for their country's independence.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
Sometimes, rousing our dormant inner adolescent is a job for a very old monster with a rock and roll heart where his soul should be.
From Salon • Jun. 13, 2026
The rousing repetitive song carried them all along, even Hannah’s mother, who was tone deaf.
From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen
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.
