rouse
gb/ɹˈaʊz/ us/ɹˈaʊz/
B2
English
~ 7000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
wake someone from sleep
to make someone stop sleeping, or wake someone who is unconscious
Usage pattern:
to rouse [someone] (from [sleep/bed/unconsciousness])
Common mistake:
Learners often use only 'wake (up)' and do not recognize 'rouse' as a more formal or literary alternative. Also, some confuse 'rouse' with 'arouse': 'rouse' is used for waking from sleep, while 'arouse' is not used this way in modern English.
Synonyms
wake (the most common everyday verb; 'rouse' is slightly more formal or literary.)
Antonyms
put to sleep (describes causing someone to fall asleep, the opposite of waking them.)
Collocations
rouse someone from sleep
|rouse someone from bed
|hard to rouse
|unable to rouse someone
|rouse someone from unconsciousness
Themes
daily life
|health
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I tried to rouse him from sleep, but he just mumbled and turned over.
- The noise of the alarm finally roused her from bed.
- It took several minutes to rouse the patient after the operation.
- The baby was lightly sleeping and was easily roused by the doorbell.
- The paramedics struggled to rouse him after he collapsed on the field.
Learner examples
- I called his name to rouse him from sleep.
- The loud music roused her, and she opened her eyes.
- The doctor roused the man after the accident.
- It is hard to rouse my brother in the morning.
Verb
C1
action
2
stir emotion or action
to make a person or group feel a strong feeling, such as anger or excitement, and start to act
Usage pattern:
to rouse [someone / a group] (to [emotion/action])
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'rouse' with 'arouse' and 'raise'. Use 'rouse' or 'arouse' with emotions and actions (e.g. 'rouse anger', 'arouse interest'), but use 'raise' with objects or levels (e.g. 'raise prices', 'raise your hand'). Also, avoid using 'rouse' for sexual meaning; modern English uses 'arouse' for that.
Synonyms
arouse (very close in meaning; 'arouse' is slightly more common and neutral, while 'rouse' often suggests a sudden or forceful effect.)
Antonyms
calm (to make emotions weaker or quieter, the opposite of stirring them up.)
Collocations
rouse anger
|rouse suspicion
|rouse public opinion
|rouse interest
|rouse the crowd
|rouse someone to action
Themes
emotions
|politics
|communication
Examples
- The speech was designed to rouse the crowd to action.
- The decision roused anger across the country.
- Investigative reports helped rouse public opinion against the new law.
- Her story roused great sympathy among the listeners.
- The coach’s words finally roused the team from its defeatist attitude.
Learner examples
- The teacher’s words roused interest in science.
- The news report roused many people to protest.
- His unfair comment roused anger in the room.
- The leader tried to rouse the workers to ask for better pay.
Verb
technical
C2
action
3
force game from hiding
to make a wild bird or animal come out from a place where it is hiding
Usage pattern:
to rouse [an animal / game] (from [cover])
Synonyms
flush out (common modern verb in hunting and military contexts; 'rouse' is more traditional or literary.)
Antonyms
hide (to keep an animal concealed, the opposite of driving it into the open.)
Collocations
rouse a bird
|rouse a deer
|rouse game from cover
|dogs roused a fox
Themes
animals
|sports
Examples
- The dogs roused a pheasant from the long grass.
- They walked through the brush, hoping to rouse any deer that might be lying low.
- A shout from one of the beaters roused the birds from cover.
Learner examples
- The hunter’s dog roused a bird from the bushes.
- They clapped and shouted to rouse the animals from the grass.
- The guide said the noise would rouse any deer in the area.
Verb
technical
C2
action
4
haul on a rope hard
to pull a rope or cable again and again with force, especially on a ship
Usage pattern:
to rouse on [a rope / cable]
Synonyms
haul (a more general and more common verb for pulling something with force; 'rouse' is restricted to older nautical use.)
Antonyms
slacken (to make a rope less tight, the opposite of pulling it hard.)
Collocations
rouse on the cable
|rouse on the rope
|men roused on the anchor cable
Themes
transport
|work
|transportation
Examples
- The crew roused on the anchor cable until the ship was free.
- Sailors roused on the rope, heaving in unison with each shouted order.
- We roused on the line to bring the boat closer to shore.
Learner examples
- The sailors roused on the heavy rope.
- They roused on the cable to move the ship.
- All the men roused on the line together.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rouse
IPA
GB/ɹˈaʊz/
US/ɹˈaʊz/
Syllables & stress
rouse (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rouse)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: rouse
- 3rd Person Singular: rouses
- Present Participle: rousing
- Past: roused
Word family
Forms
rouses
verb
rousing
verb
roused
verb
Related words
Expressions
rouse on someone
1/ɹˈaʊz ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn/
phrasal verb
informal
angrily scold someone (Aus/NZ)
Australian and New Zealand English: to speak angrily to someone because they did something wrong or annoyed you
Examples
- Mum really roused on us for coming home late.
- The coach roused on the team after their lazy performance.
rouse public opinion
1/ɹˈaʊz pˈʌblɪk əpˈɪnjən/
fixed phrase
stir strong public reaction
to make many people in a society feel strongly and start to react, often by speaking out or protesting
Examples
- The scandal roused public opinion against the government.
- Activists worked to rouse public opinion on the issue of pollution.
rouse someone from sleep
1/ɹˈaʊz sˈʌmwˌʌn fɹˈʌm slˈip/
fixed phrase
wake a sleeping person
to wake someone who is sleeping
Examples
- The sound of the storm roused him from sleep.
- She gently roused the child from sleep for school.
rouse someone to action
1/ɹˈaʊz sˈʌmwˌʌn tə ˈækʃən/
fixed phrase
make someone start acting
to make a person or group start doing something in an active and determined way
Examples
- The documentary helped rouse people to action on climate change.
- Her letter finally roused the board to action.
rouse yourself
1/ɹˈaʊz jʊɹsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
force yourself to get going
to make yourself get up, work, or pay attention when you feel lazy, tired, or uninterested
Examples
- Rouse yourself and finish the report before lunch.
- He finally roused himself and started cleaning the apartment.