rouse Definition
- 1to wake someone up or cause someone to become active or excited
- 2to provoke or stir up strong emotions or reactions
Using rouse: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "rouse" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The loud noise roused me from my sleep.
Example
The coach's speech roused the team to victory.
Example
The injustice of the situation roused her anger.
Example
The smell of fresh coffee roused his senses.
rouse Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using rouse
a hornet's nest
a situation that is likely to cause trouble or be met with hostility
Example
He stirred up a hornet's nest when he criticized the company's policies.
a person or group that has great potential but has not yet been fully utilized or awakened
Example
The new technology has the potential to awaken a sleeping giant in the industry.
Example
His comments about the company's management style ruffled some feathers.
Phrases with rouse
Example
She roused herself from the couch and went for a jog.
Example
His evasive answers roused suspicion among his colleagues.
Example
The leader's speech roused the crowd to action.
Origins of rouse
from Old Norse 'rausa', meaning 'to shake the branches of a tree'
Summary: rouse in Brief
To 'rouse' [raʊz] means to awaken or stimulate someone or something, often to become more active or excited. It can also mean to provoke strong emotions or reactions, as in 'The injustice of the situation roused her anger.' The phrase 'rouse oneself' denotes making an effort to become more alert or energetic, while 'rouse suspicion' means to cause others to become suspicious or distrustful. Idioms like 'a hornet's nest' and 'a sleeping giant' describe situations that are likely to cause trouble or awaken great potential.