rouse

1 of 3

verb

roused; rousing

transitive verb

1
a
: to arouse from or as if from sleep or repose : awaken
b
: to stir up : excite
was roused to fury
2
archaic : to cause to break from cover

intransitive verb

1
: to become aroused : awaken
2
: to become stirred
rousement noun
rouser noun

rouse

2 of 3

noun (1)

: an act or instance of rousing
especially : an excited stir

rouse

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
archaic : carousal
2
obsolete : drink, toast

Examples of rouse in a Sentence

Verb I've been unable to rouse her. I was so tired I could barely rouse myself to prepare dinner. These animals are dangerous when roused. She was roused to anger by their indifference.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
As Jen takes up a physically grueling passion of her own — aerial acrobatics — Jones and cinematographer Andrew White present graceful re-stagings of moments from her career, which make deft use of shadow and spotlight, and veer into rousing territory. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 But Russia’s February 2022 invasion seemed to rouse Europe from a post-Cold War slumber, spurring deep changes in how the region’s relatively wealthy democracies think about their own security. Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The Equestrian Hotel opened just three years ago and sits alongside the 128,000 square-foot Grand Outdoor Arena – guests can rouse from their beds, grab a cup of in-room coffee, and sit at their picture windows watching the athletes and their steeds run through their programs. Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The group offered a gritty, rousing performance of the song in front of a video screen showcasing the band’s name in vintage type. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 Those risks, of course, won’t matter much to a Dodgers fan base that embraced Hernández during his first stint with the club from 2015 to 2020, then welcomed him back with rousing ovations after last year’s trade. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 In Wrangell, sign up for Anan Creek Bear Viewing and Photography, joining the expedition team bear expert and a photography specialist for this rousing small-group bear-viewing experience. Janice Wald Henderson, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2024 Bening walks a fine line between narcissism and determination as marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, with Foster playing her steadfast coach Bonnie Stoll, in this rousing true-life drama. USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024 His maiden speech in the House of Lords, in 1812, is still a clarion call: a rousing defense of the Luddites, who had smashed machinery that was taking over their jobs and were facing the death penalty. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rouse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to shake the feathers

Noun (2)

alteration (from misdivision of to drink carouse) of carouse

First Known Use

Verb

1531, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun (1)

1764, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1593, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of rouse was in 1531

Dictionary Entries Near rouse

Cite this Entry

“Rouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rouse. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rouse

verb
ˈrau̇z
roused; rousing
1
2
: to make or become active : stir up

More from Merriam-Webster on rouse

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