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
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 Judges Chance the Rapper, John Legend, Reba McEntire, and Dan + Shay turned in a rousing rendition of the uplifting tune, getting an extra assist from a full-throated choir. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 On Saturday night inside a Beverly Hilton ballroom, Hanks introduces Davis with a rousing oration that thematically probes the breadth of the record mogul’s nearly 60 years in the industry. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Having arrived at the hospital comatose, Pierre has been placed into a second, artificially induced coma from which, when the time is right, the doctors will attempt to rouse him — though without any guarantee that the original coma will in turn also lift. Katie Kitamura, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2024 The glory of Smalls’ R&B score is on rousing display, rescuing the revival from slow patches and building excitement for the next big number. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 In London: Sing your heart out and dream of the dancing queen on Evan Evans’ ABBA Voyage Express Coach Package that streamlines your transportation and adds fuss-free bonuses to a rousing concert at the spectacular ABBA Arena (see video, above), located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Laura Manske, Forbes, 14 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 19 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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