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
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
Love Is Blind leaves the answer on a cliffhanger, but internet sleuths have been quick to locate the picture that aroused Taylor’s suspicions in the first place.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 20 Feb. 2025
The brain perceives inevitable crises and uncertainties as a threat to our survival, instantly arousing fight-or-flight reactions.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
On the other hand, Harry is acting shady enough to arouse some suspicions.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arouse
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Linn Washington, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2025
Love Is Blind leaves the answer on a cliffhanger, but internet sleuths have been quick to locate the picture that aroused Taylor’s suspicions in the first place.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 20 Feb. 2025
The brain perceives inevitable crises and uncertainties as a threat to our survival, instantly arousing fight-or-flight reactions.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
On the other hand, Harry is acting shady enough to arouse some suspicions.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 14 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 12 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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