To arouse is to wake someone up or to stir up a feeling, such as curiosity, anger, or excitement. It means causing something to become active or alert.
From Middle English “arousen,” formed from “a-” (up) and “rousen” meaning “to shake” or “rouse.” It originally meant to stir someone from sleep.
Arouse is like flipping the “on” switch in a person’s body or mind. Whether it’s waking from sleep or sparking an emotion, something inside goes from quiet to fully awake.
"Arouse" has been used both for emotional stimulation and, in sexual contexts, in ways that often objectify women or blame them for eliciting male desire. This reflects broader patterns of sexual double standards and victim‑blaming.
Use "arouse" carefully and context‑specifically; in sexual contexts, avoid implying that one person's existence or clothing makes them responsible for another's behavior.
["stimulate","evoke","provoke","awaken"]
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.