aroused; arousing
1
: to awaken from sleep
was aroused from a deep sleep by a loud noise
2
: to stimulate to action or to bodily readiness for activity : excite
a book that has aroused debate
3
: to excite (someone) sexually : to cause sexual arousal in (someone)
… girls whose perfume scent frightened him and aroused him.—
Elizabeth Berg
Elizabeth Berg
: to awake from sleep : stir
Examples of arouse in a Sentence
The report aroused a great deal of public interest.
The husky sound of her voice could always arouse him.
Their proposal is certain to arouse the opposition.
Recent Examples on the Web
Life’s inevitable uncertainties instantly arouse your sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight or stress response).
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Johanna’s worldly bearing and otherworldly beauty; the unbearable stirrings of jealousy aroused when her teacher bonds with other students; the deeper bond that forms when Johanne impulsively pays a visit to Johanna’s apartment.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025
When her husband’s relationship with their enigmatic new neighbor becomes increasingly intense, Fiona’s suspicions are aroused.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Defending rights and progress aroused attendees at that January meeting in 2025 as strongly as denouncing forced colonization aroused attendees at the mass meeting 208 years earlier.
—Linn Washington, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arouse
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Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Johanna’s worldly bearing and otherworldly beauty; the unbearable stirrings of jealousy aroused when her teacher bonds with other students; the deeper bond that forms when Johanne impulsively pays a visit to Johanna’s apartment.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025
When her husband’s relationship with their enigmatic new neighbor becomes increasingly intense, Fiona’s suspicions are aroused.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Defending rights and progress aroused attendees at that January meeting in 2025 as strongly as denouncing forced colonization aroused attendees at the mass meeting 208 years earlier.
—Linn Washington, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arouse
Cite this Entry
“Arouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arouse. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
arouse
transitive verb
aroused; arousing
1
a
: to awake from sleep
b
: to rouse or stimulate to action
c
: to excite (someone) sexually : to cause sexual arousal in (someone)
2
: to give rise to
a response aroused by a stimulus
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