What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
arouse
Example
The movie's suspenseful plot aroused my curiosity. [aroused: past tense]
Example
The speaker's passionate speech aroused the audience's emotions. [aroused: verb]
excite
Example
The news of her promotion excited her greatly. [excited: past tense]
Example
The concert's energetic performance excited the crowd. [excited: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Excite is more commonly used than arouse in everyday language. Excite is a versatile word that can be used to describe a wide range of situations and emotions, while arouse is less common and tends to be used in more specific or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between arouse and excite?
While arouse is typically associated with a more formal tone, excite can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it a more flexible and widely applicable word.