rouse

To cause a strong feeling or emotional reaction.

• The story roused her curiosity.
• His unfair treatment roused public anger.
• These songs still rouse strong feelings in me.

Similar words: arouse, stir, awaken

Common phrases: rouse suspicion, rouse sympathy, rouse strong feelings

To make someone or something become more active or start moving.

• The music roused the crowd.
• Her appeal roused us to action.
• Nothing could rouse him from his inactivity.

How to use it: rouse someone from something (The speech roused them from their apathy.); rouse someone to action (The crisis roused the community to action.)

Similar words: stir, energize, activate

Common phrases: rouse the crowd, rouse someone into action

To make someone react strongly, especially by making them angry or annoyed.

• His insults finally roused her.
• The accusation roused him to an angry reply.
• Do not rouse the dog by teasing it.

How to use it: rouse someone to something (His cruel remarks roused her to fury.)

Similar words: provoke, goad, irritate

Opposites: soothe

Common phrases: rouse someone to anger, rouse someone with insults

To mix a liquid, especially beer while it is being made.

• Rouse the beer gently.
• The brewer roused the yeast in the tank.
• This mixture needs rousing before fermentation continues.

Similar words: stir, agitate

Common phrases: rouse the beer, rouse the yeast

An act that brings activity or excitement, or a noisy disturbance.

• There was a rouse outside.
• The announcement caused quite a rouse among the guests.
• A sudden rouse in the street drew us to the window.

Similar words: stir, commotion, disturbance

Common phrases: a sudden rouse, a noisy rouse

An act of shaking the feathers, especially by a hawk.

• The hawk gave a rouse.
• After its bath, the falcon had a vigorous rouse.
• A quick rouse left the bird looking fluffy.

Common phrases: a quick rouse, a full rouse

A morning military call, usually played on a bugle, telling soldiers to get out of bed.

• The rouse sounded at dawn.
• Soldiers got out of bed when they heard the rouse.
• A bugler played the Rouse across the quiet camp.

Common phrases: sound the rouse, play the rouse