- (transitive)
to evoke or elicit (a reaction, emotion, or response); stimulate to awaken from sleep
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
a•rouse /əˈraʊz/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], a•roused, a•rous•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to stir up;
excite: The fiery speech aroused the crowd. - to stimulate sexually.
- to wake (somebody) up:She aroused them at noon.
a•rouse
(ə rouz′),USA pronunciation v., a•roused, a•rous•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
a•rous′a•bil′i•ty, n.
a•rous′a•ble, adj.
a•rous•al
(ə rou′zəl),USA pronunciation n.
a•rous′er, n.
v.t.
- to stir to action or strong response; excite:to arouse a crowd; to arouse suspicion.
- to stimulate sexually.
- to awaken;
wake up:The footsteps aroused the dog.
v.i.
- to awake or become aroused:At dawn the farmers began to arouse.
- a-3 + rouse1, modeled on arise 1585–95
a•rous′a•ble, adj.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged . animate; inspirit, inspire; incite, provoke, instigate; stimulate, kindle, fire.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged . calm.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'arousing' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
affective
- antipathetic
- aphrodisiac
- arouse
- attractive
- bloodcurdling
- charged
- compelling
- cult
- curious
- demagogue
- desirable
- emotional
- erogenous
- erotic
- eroticism
- fascinate
- fascinating
- formidable
- gee whiz
- hate
- hateful
- hilarious
- hot
- impressive
- interesting
- intrigue
- intriguing
- lascivious
- laughable
- lubricious
- luscious
- moving
- numinous
- pathos
- pitiful
- satiate
- sensual
- soft-core
- sultry
- tantalize
- tender
- toll
- uncanny
- yawnful