arouse meaning and definition

AROUSE verb

Definition of arouse (verb)

1. call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
   • "arouse pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy"
   • synonyms: elicit, enkindle, evoke, fire, kindle, provoke, raise
2. stop sleeping
   • "She woke up to the sound of the alarm clock"
   • synonyms: awake, awaken, come alive, wake, wake up, waken
   • antonym: dope off
3. summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
   • "raise the specter of unemployment"; "he conjured wild birds in the air"; "call down the spirits from the mountain"
   • synonyms: bring up, call down, call forth, conjure, conjure up, evoke, invoke, put forward, raise, stir
4. cause to be alert and energetic
   • "Coffee and tea stimulate me"; "This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate"
   • synonyms: brace, energise, energize, perk up, stimulate
   • antonym: calm
5. cause to become awake or conscious
   • "He was roused by the drunken men in the street"; "Please wake me at 6 AM."
   • synonyms: awaken, rouse, wake, wake up, waken
   • antonym: cause to sleep
6. to begin moving
   • "As the thunder started the sleeping children began to stir"
   • synonyms: stir
7. stimulate sexually
   • "This movie usually arouses the male audience"
   • synonyms: excite, sex, turn on, wind up