arouse
gb/ɚˈaʊz/ us/ɚˈaʊz/
B2
English
~ 8600
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
B2
action
1
cause a feeling or reaction
To make a feeling or reaction start or grow stronger in a person or group, especially interest, curiosity, anger, or suspicion.
Usage pattern:
to arouse [emotion/feeling/reaction] in [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"arouse someone"* when they mean a nonsexual emotion, for example, *"The film aroused me"*. In this sense, *arouse* is usually followed by the feeling: *"The film aroused my interest"* or *"The film aroused anger in many people"., Learners may also overuse *arouse* in casual speech, where verbs like *make*, *cause*, or *spark* are more natural (e.g., *"The news made people angry"*).
Synonyms
provoke (Often suggests a stronger or more negative reaction, such as anger or conflict.)
|
spark (More informal and vivid; often used for suddenly starting interest, debate, or conflict.)
|
stir (Slightly softer; common in phrases like "stir feelings" or "stir interest".)
Antonyms
calm (Suggests reducing or preventing strong feelings or reactions.)
Collocations
arouse suspicion
|arouse interest
|arouse curiosity
|arouse anger
|arouse emotions
|arouse public concern
Themes
emotions
|communication
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The announcement quickly aroused public suspicion about the company’s finances.
- Her story aroused great interest among the students.
- The report aroused anger in the community when the details became known.
- The strange noise outside aroused his curiosity.
- The politician’s remarks aroused strong emotions on both sides of the debate.
Learner examples
- The news article aroused interest in the new project.
- His strange behavior aroused suspicion among his coworkers.
- The teacher’s question aroused curiosity in the class.
- The video aroused anger in many viewers.
- The speech aroused concern about climate change.
Verb
C1
action
2
cause sexual excitement
To make someone feel sexual desire or excitement.
Usage pattern:
to arouse [someone] sexually / to arouse sexual desire in [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this sexual sense when they only want to talk about general emotions, which can sound inappropriate. For neutral feelings like interest or curiosity, say *"arouse interest"* or just *"make people interested"*, not *"arouse people"*.
Synonyms
excite (Can be sexual or nonsexual; in sexual contexts, often appears in phrases like "sexually excite.")
|
turn on (Informal phrasal verb; very common in everyday speech for causing sexual excitement.)
Antonyms
turn off (Informal; means to stop or reduce sexual interest or attraction.)
Collocations
sexually arouse
|be aroused
|feel aroused
|arouse desire
|arouse him/her
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|body
|health
Examples
- The scene was clearly intended to arouse the audience sexually.
- He was embarrassed to realize how easily he was aroused by her touch.
- The book explores how certain images can arouse desire.
- Some advertisements are designed specifically to arouse sexual interest.
- She did not want to arouse him and moved her hand away.
Learner examples
- The movie tried to arouse the viewers sexually.
- His words did not arouse her at all.
- She noticed that he was easily aroused by romantic scenes.
- The photos were made to arouse sexual desire.
- He did not want to arouse her, so he kept a distance.
Verb
formal
C1
action
3
wake someone from sleep
To make someone wake up from sleep or from a very deep rest.
Usage pattern:
to arouse [someone] from [sleep/a deep sleep]
Common mistake:
Learners often think *arouse* is common in this sense, but in everyday conversation *wake (someone) up* is much more natural. *Arouse* here is mainly used in formal or medical writing.
Synonyms
awaken (Formal and somewhat literary; has almost the same meaning in this physical sense.)
|
wake (More common and neutral in everyday speech; usually used as "wake (someone) up".)
Antonyms
lull to sleep (Means to cause someone to fall asleep, often gently; opposite of waking them.)
Collocations
arouse someone from sleep
|arouse someone from a deep sleep
|arouse him/her from unconsciousness
Themes
daily life
|health
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The loud thunder finally aroused him from a deep sleep.
- Nothing seemed able to arouse her from her heavy sleep.
- The patient could not be aroused from unconsciousness after the operation.
- They tried to arouse the child from sleep, but he would not wake.
- Cold water was used to arouse him from his faint.
Learner examples
- The loud alarm aroused him from sleep.
- They tried to arouse her from a deep sleep.
- The nurse could not arouse the patient after the operation.
- The noise outside aroused the baby from sleep.
- He was hard to arouse from his deep sleep.
Verb
formal
C1
action
4
stimulate someone to take action
To make a person or group active and ready to act, often in a social or political way.
Usage pattern:
to arouse [someone/a group] to [action/protest]
Common mistake:
Learners may not clearly distinguish between arousing a feeling (*arouse anger, arouse interest*) and arousing people to act (*arouse people to protest*). When you want to show that people actually do something, it is natural to add an action: *"arouse people to act"*, *"arouse them to protest"*.
Synonyms
rouse (Very close in meaning; common in "rouse someone to action" or "rouse the crowd".)
|
mobilize (More technical/political; focuses on organizing people for action, not just emotionally stirring them.)
Antonyms
discourage (Means to make people less willing to act or continue; opposite of motivating them.)
Collocations
arouse the public
|arouse the masses
|arouse the crowd
|arouse people to action
|arouse opposition
Themes
society
|politics
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The leader’s speech aroused the crowd to action.
- The article was intended to arouse the public to demand change.
- The tragedy aroused the nation to rethink its safety laws.
- The campaign failed to arouse voters this year.
- Her words aroused the students to organize a protest.
Learner examples
- The speech aroused the workers to strike.
- The story of the accident aroused people to ask for new laws.
- The leader’s words aroused the crowd to action.
- The group wanted to arouse the public to help.
- The news did not arouse many people to vote.
Grammar
Dictionary form
arouse
IPA
GB/ɚˈaʊz/
US/ɚˈaʊz/
Syllables & stress
arouse (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (arouse)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: arouse
- 3rd Person Singular: arouses
- Present Participle: arousing
- Past: aroused
Word family
Forms
arouses
verb
arousing
verb
aroused
verb
Core family
arousal
noun
Related words
rouse
verb B2
rousing
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.