Arouse — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈrau̇z/

Meaning & Definition of Arouse

Arouse (verb)

  1. to awaken from sleep
  2. to stimulate to action or to bodily readiness for activity, excite
  3. to excite (someone) sexually, to cause sexual arousal in (someone)

Arouse (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to stop sleeping

    "the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep"

    similar: awake, awaken, knock up (British), rouse, wake, waken
    related: roust, rout, raise, revive, reawaken, rewake, agitate, bestir, disturb, excite, provoke, stimulate, stir
    opposite: lull
    near: hypnotize, mesmerize

  2. to cease to be asleep

    "set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m."

    similar: awake, awaken, rouse, wake, waken
    related: arise, get up, rise, roll out, turn out, uprise, watch, revive, reawaken, rewake, shift, stir
    near: catnap, conk (off or out), doze, drop off, nap, nod, rest, sleep, slumber, snooze, bed (down), couch, doss (down) (chiefly British), flop, kip (down) (British), retire, sack out, turn in, lie up, sleep in, oversleep

  3. to rouse to strong feeling or action

    "the court's controversial decision aroused many to protest and to lobby the legislature for a constitutional amendment"

    similar: encourage, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, provoke, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stir, build a fire under
    related: fan, ignite, inflame, kindle, trigger, activate, animate, drive, energize, galvanize, induce, inspire, key (up), motivate, motive, pump up, quicken, set off, vitalize, abet, ferment, foment, raise, whip (up), anger, enrage, madden, upset, jeer, taunt, tease, aggravate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get, irritate, vex
    near: calm, soothe, subdue, tranquilize, appease, mollify, pacify, placate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Arouse

The most common words with a similar meaning to Arouse:

British: knock up
awake, awaken, rouse, wake, waken, encourage, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, provoke, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stir, build a fire under

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Arouse

Words with the opposite meaning of Arouse:

lull

Related Words for Arouse

roust, rout, raise, revive, reawaken, rewake, agitate, bestir, disturb, arise, get up, rise, roll out, turn out, uprise, watch, shift, fan, ignite, inflame, kindle, trigger, activate, animate, drive, energize, galvanize, induce, inspire, key (up)

Near Antonyms of Arouse

hypnotize, mesmerize, catnap, conk (off or out), doze, drop off, nap, nod, rest, sleep, slumber, snooze, bed (down), couch, doss (down), flop, kip (down), retire, sack out, turn in, lie up, sleep in, oversleep, calm, soothe, subdue, tranquilize, appease, mollify, pacify

Word Forms of Arouse

Inflections: aroused, arousing

Derived words: aroused (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Arouse

a- (as in arise, awake:1) + rouse:1

First known use: circa 1616t

Frequently Asked Questions about Arouse

What does "Arouse" mean?

"Arouse" means to awaken from sleep. As a verb, it is defined as: to awaken from sleep. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Arouse"?

Other words for "Arouse" include awake, awaken, knock up, rouse, wake, waken, encourage and excite. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Arouse" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Arouse"?

There are 75 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Arouse". Common alternatives include awake, awaken, knock up, rouse, wake, waken, encourage, excite, fire (up) and impassion.

What is the opposite of "Arouse"?

Antonyms of "Arouse" include lull. Near antonyms include hypnotize, mesmerize, catnap and conk (off or out).

How do you use "Arouse" in a sentence?

Examples of "Arouse" in a sentence: "the rooster's crow aroused me from my deep sleep"; "set the alarm so we would arouse at 5:00 a.m."; "the court's controversial decision aroused many to protest and to lobby the legislature for a constitutional amendment".

Is "Arouse" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Arouse" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Arouse"?

"Arouse" is pronounced /ə-ˈrau̇z/.

What is the origin of the word "Arouse"?

"Arouse" comes from a- (as in arise, awake:1) + rouse:1. First known use: circa 1616t.