- a person or thing that rouses people, such as a stirring speech or compelling rock song
- (in combination): rabble-rouser
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
rouser /ˈraʊzə/ n
rouse1 /raʊz/USA pronunciation
v., roused, rous•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to (cause to) come out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, etc.: [~ + object]tried to rouse her but she was still unconscious.[no object]She wouldn't rouse.
- to cause excitement, indignation, or anger in:[~ + object]His speech roused the people from their apathy.
rouse1 (rouz),USA pronunciation
v., roused, rous•ing, n.
v.t.
v.i.
n.
rous•ed•ness
(rou′zid nis),USA pronunciation n.
rous′er, n.
rouse2 (rouz),USA pronunciationn.
v.t.
- to bring out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, fancied security, apathy, depression, etc.:He was roused to action by courageous words.
- to stir or incite to strong indignation or anger.
- Animal Husbandryto cause (game) to start from a covert or lair.
- Nautical, Naval Termsto pull by main strength; haul.
v.i.
- to come out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, apathy, depression, etc.
- Animal Husbandryto start up from a covert or lair, as game.
n.
- a rousing.
- a signal for rousing;
reveille.
- 1480–90 in sense "(of a hawk) to shake the feathers''; 1525–35 for def. 3; origin, originally uncertain
- 1. arouse, stir, excite, animate, stimulate, awaken, kindle, inflame, fire. 1. 2. See incite. 2. provoke, anger.
- 1. 2. lull, calm, pacify.
rouse2 (rouz),USA pronunciation
- [Archaic.]a carouse.
- [Obs.]a bumper of liquor.
- perh. variant of carouse (drink carouse being wrongly analyzed as drink a rouse) 1595–1605
'rouser' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):