From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrouserouse /raʊz/ verb [transitive] 1 WAKE UP/GET UP formal to wake someone who is sleeping deeply His banging roused the neighbours.rouse somebody from sleep/dreams etc A persistent ringing roused Christina from a pleasant dream.2 START something/MAKE something STARTto make someone start doing something, especially when they have been too tired or unwilling to do itrouse yourself She roused herself stiffly from her chair.rouse somebody to something/to do something a campaign designed to rouse the younger generation to action3 START something/MAKE something STARTto make someone feel a particular emotion, such as anger or fear → arouse We don’t want to rouse any suspicions.rouse somebody to something Paul strode forward, roused to anger.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
rouse• Around 2 a.m., I was roused by the sound of screaming.• It rouses far-off memories of infancy, of being handled and given comfort.• I was roused from my sleep the sound of a door banging shut.• He found Paula fast asleep in bed, and nothing would rouse her.• The project is a NASA scheme to rouse interest in science and space.• What sounds like a distant waterfall rouses me from sleep in the early morning.• Kemp's speech roused the crowd to cheers.• Outside the sealed city, the advent of the round ship Adorno roused the kingdom.• Then they roused themselves, surprised that some one was actually going to use the microphone.• Some left couches of sickness, roused to new strength at the call to arms.• This is fine, provided you are able to rouse yourself again for dinner!rouse somebody from sleep/dreams etc• What sounds like a distant waterfall rouses me from sleep in the early morning.rouse somebody to something/to do something• But here and there, societies rouse themselves to break the mould.• Later, she could hardly remember what the issues were that had so roused them to mutual abuse.• Leaders like that get only the bare minimum of effort and never rouse employees to cooperative activity.• The slightest word of greeting roused them to stand, bow graciously and offer a cup of coffee.• The voice of command roused him to make an effort.Origin rouse (1400-1500) Perhaps from Old French ruser; → RUSH1 