to bring out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, fancied security, apathy, depression, etc.: He was roused to action by courageous words.
to stir or incite to strong indignation or anger.
to cause (game) to start from a covert or lair.
Nautical. to pull by main strength; haul.
verb (used without object),roused,rous·ing.
to come out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, apathy, depression, etc.
to start up from a covert or lair, as game.
noun
a rousing.
a signal for rousing; reveille.
Origin of rouse
1
1480–90 in sense “(of a hawk) to shake the feathers”; 1525–35 for def. 3; origin uncertain
At last, a cause that could rouse it to action: defending the honor of campaign contributors.
How Obama Can Use Executive Actions to Improve Our Democracy|Michael Waldman|April 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They startle viewers, rouse viewers, occasionally put off and occasionally turn on viewers.
‘Veep’ Is a F*@king Masterclass in Cursing|Kevin Fallon|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He had to rouse himself and run for his life through the hospital, hiding with the terrified nurses behind locked doors.
Mumbai on Edge With Shiv Sena Founder Bal Thackeray Ill|Dilip D’Souza|November 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The ex-senator tells Howard Kurtz that Congress needs to rouse itself to raise taxes and slash spending.
Alan Simpson Plans ‘Cialis Solution’ to Get Congress to Slash Debt|Howard Kurtz|June 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Newt Gingrich rarely fails to rouse a partisan crowd, as he demonstrated again over the weekend.
Newt Gingrich Could Be a Contender in 2012|Howard Kurtz|May 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He knew that would only rouse his emotions and weaken his courage.
The Lost Prince|Frances Hodgson Burnett
Then a reminiscence, which had never before failed to rouse indignation in her, made her laugh.
Cashel Byron's Profession|George Bernard Shaw
Then as they heard nothing to rouse their fears, they moved cautiously up the side of the ridge.
The War Trail|Elmer Russell Gregor
But now the pack began to rouse up and show its rage under the calm, careless, defiant contempt with which it was being treated.
The Lost Middy|George Manville Fenn
They thought that the object of worship in church was to rouse men to think and act about the problems of the world.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed.|S. A. Reilly
British Dictionary definitions for rouse (1 of 2)
rouse1
/ (raʊz) /
verb
to bring (oneself or another person) out of sleep, unconsciousness, etc, or (of a person) to come to consciousness in this way
(tr)to provoke, stir, or exciteto rouse someone's anger
rouse oneselfto become active or energetic
huntingto start or cause to start from coverto rouse game birds
(intr)falconry(of hawks) to ruffle the feathers and cause them to stand briefly on end (a sign of contentment)
(raʊs) (intr foll by on) Australianto speak scoldingly or rebukingly (to)
noun
mainlyUS another term for reveille
Derived forms of rouse
rousedness (ˈraʊzɪdnɪs), noun
Word Origin for rouse
C15 (in sense 5): origin obscure
British Dictionary definitions for rouse (2 of 2)
rouse2
/ (raʊz) /
nounarchaic
an alcoholic drink, esp a full measure
another word for carousal
Word Origin for rouse
C17: probably a variant of carouse (as in the phrase drink a rouse, erroneous for drink carouse); compare Danish drikke en rus to become drunk, German Rausch drunkenness
get up, arouse, awake, awaken, stir, wake up, work up, disturb, provoke, trigger, incite, rile, agitate, inflame, startle, heighten, galvanize, kindle, whip up, fire up