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to arouse

to arouse

57 4.1
Cause a feeling or strong reaction in people
  • verb
  • /əˈraʊz/
translation icon : despertar
  • Like many libraries, we set up informative, eye-catching displays that arouse curiosity in our young patrons.
  • arouse interest
  • arouse suspicion
  • arouse emotions

So as a conversation heats up, you are already arousing her mind.

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Examples

  • My curiosity was aroused.

  • The more secretive you are about your life, the more it arouses people's interest.

  • The key question here is which stories arouse the greatest range and depth of response.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Why does Donald Trump arouse so much emotion in people?

  • "When you state it in those terms, it does arouse the curiosity," I acknowledged.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Rather, quizzes with this group tended to arouse fear rather than interest in the students.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Politics has thus become moribund; no longer does it arouse serious public controversy.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Those opposing this plan have sought to arouse prejudice and fear.

  • These dramatic videotapes, secretly obtained by animal rights activists, have aroused public indignation.

  • The documentary aims to arouse curiosity about climate change among viewers.

Synonyms

to raise
vsto arouse
3.2

To bring up a subject or cause people to notice it

is directly causing a feeling rather than simply bringing it up
to inspire
vsto arouse
837 3.2

Cause someone to feel excited and ready to act

is broader and includes feelings beyond motivation or creativity
to excite
vsto arouse
331 2.7

To make someone feel very happy, interested, or eager

is neutral about strength and covers any caused emotion or response
to wake
vsto arouse
279 4.8

To make someone feel strong emotions or remember something

is specifically about causing feelings rather than raising simple awareness
to stimulate
vsto arouse
236 3.7

Make a person or thing more active, alert and responsive

focuses on causing feelings or emotional responses rather than activity level
to induce
vsto arouse
168 5.3

Cause a process, event, or feeling to start

is focused on feelings specifically, not all possible caused processes
to intrigue
vsto arouse
143 5.1

To make someone curious or interested

is broader and covers all feelings, not only curiosity or interest
to heat
vsto arouse
138 5.9

To cause strong feelings or excitement

is more general and does not always imply intense passion
to stir
vsto arouse
131 3.7

To make someone feel a strong emotion

is the general term for causing a particular feeling or response
to provoke
vsto arouse
115 3.7

Cause a reaction or feeling

is broader and may include accidental or neutral causes as well
to evoke
vsto arouse
71 4.8

To bring a memory, image, or feeling to mind

focuses more generally on causing any feeling or response to occur
to fire up
vsto arouse
  • Informal
70 4.1

Make people feel excited and ready to act

is more general and applies to any caused feeling, not only enthusiasm
to fire
vsto arouse
62 4.8

To cause strong feeling or excitement in someone

is broader, covering any caused feeling or response not only strong ones
to ignite
vsto arouse
47 4.4

To cause strong feelings in someone

is more neutral about strength and can mean any caused feeling
to stoke
vsto arouse
45 4.6

To encourage strong feelings or interest

is immediate cause of a feeling rather than mainly increasing intensity
to agitate
vsto arouse
42 4.8

To make people feel strongly excited or upset

is the general act of causing feelings without implying trouble or unrest
to elicit
vsto arouse
  • Formal
40 5.3

To get an answer or other reaction from someone by asking

is similar but does not require an active method like asking or testing
to inflame
vsto arouse
31 5.8

To make people's feelings stronger, especially anger or hate

can cause any feeling, not only intensify negative emotions
to engender
vsto arouse
  • Formal
26 6.9

To make a feeling or situation start

is immediate causing of a feeling rather than gradual development
to rouse
vsto arouse
16 5.1

To make people feel strong emotion and want to act

is about causing any particular feeling or response, not only excitement
to electrify
vsto arouse
14 4.1

To make people feel very excited and want to act

is broader and can mean a mild or any kind of caused feeling
to enthuse
vsto arouse
7 5.5

To make someone feel excited about something

is more general and applies to creating any feeling, not only enthusiasm
to kindle
vsto arouse
5 6.5

To cause a strong feeling or interest to begin

covers any caused feeling but is not limited to inspiration imagery
to ignite passion
vsto arouse
1 5.0

Make someone feel very excited and interested in something

is broader and applies to any caused feeling, not only enthusiasm
to enkindle
vsto arouse
  • Archaic
1 9.2

To make someone feel a strong emotion

is more general and does not stress the warming or starting image
6.0

To make someone feel strong excitement or deep emotion

is broader, applying to any caused feeling not only vivid excitement
to enflame
vsto arouse
6.4

To make feelings like anger or excitement stronger

is neutral, causing feelings without necessarily worsening or inflaming them

Antonyms

962 1.0

Make a person or animal less upset

88 5.8

To hold back feelings or reactions

Phrasal Verbs

To make someone want to know more

To make someone feel curious about something and want to know more

How Emotional

to inflame
31 5.8
to arouse
57 4.1
to provoke
115 3.7
to evoke
71 4.8
to cause
1.0

Surface Forms

arouse infinitive
aroused past
aroused past participle
arousing present participle
arouses third person singular

Morphology

arouse = rouse (semi-transparent) = a + rouse

The figurative meaning is close to 'rouse' in expressions like 'rouse emotions', but the role of 'a-' is not transparently rule-based for learners.

Etymology

Arouse comes from a- + rouse, with rouse meaning 'stir up'. So to arouse a feeling is to 'stir up' that feeling in people.