What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
awake
Example
I awake early every morning to start my day. [awake: verb]
Example
She was wide awake after a good night's sleep. [awake: adjective]
arouse
Example
The movie aroused my curiosity about ancient civilizations. [aroused: past tense]
Example
His speech was intended to arouse public support for the cause. [arouse: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Awake is more commonly used than arouse in everyday language. Awake is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts related to being awake or waking up from sleep. On the other hand, arouse is less common and is typically used in more specific situations where there is a need to describe the act of stimulating emotions or provoking a reaction.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between awake and arouse?
While awake is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, arouse is more formal and often found in written or literary works. It is used to convey a more sophisticated or nuanced meaning.