Word
rouse
US/ˈɹaʊs/
UK/ɹˈaʊz/
Definitions
01to wake someone
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to wake someone up from a deep sleep.
v. to awaken someone from sleep, typically through a deliberate action.
“The loud ringing of the telephone finally managed to rouse him from his sleep.”
“The nurse attempted to rouse the patient after the procedure, but the sedative was still taking full effect.”
Antonyms
02to stir to action
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to make someone feel excited or angry enough to start doing something.
v. to excite or provoke a person or group into a state of activity, interest, or anger.
“The leader's powerful speech was designed to rouse the crowd to action.”
“The editorial was intended to rouse the public from their apathy regarding the upcoming local elections.”
03to criticize
C2 · Proficiency Slang · Dialect
v. to tell someone off or criticize them for doing something wrong.
v. to reprimand or criticize someone severely.
“The boss is going to rouse on us if we don't finish this report by five.”
“He knew his father would rouse on him for returning the car with an empty petrol tank.”
Antonyms
04military signal
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Military British English
n. a bugle call played in the morning to tell soldiers to get out of bed.
n. a bugle call sounded after reveille to signal that soldiers are to rise from their beds.
“The soldiers stood at attention as the rouse echoed through the barracks.”
“In many Commonwealth traditions, the rouse is played during Remembrance Day services to symbolize the resurrection of the fallen.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object; it can be used both literally for sleep and figuratively for emotions.
Real-World Examples
“The girl was roused by the animal’s presence and hid under her blankets.” Etymology
From Middle English rousen, from Anglo-Norman reuser, ruser, originally used in English of hawks shaking the feathers of the body, from Latin recūsō, by loss of the medial 'c.' Doublet of recuse. Figurative meaning “to stir up, provoke to activity” is from 1580s; that of “awaken” is first recorded 1590s.
First attested in the late 16th Century. From carouse, from rebracketing of the phrase “drink carouse” as “drink a rouse”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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