Reveille (pronounced “REV-uh-lee”) is the bugle call or signal that wakes soldiers in the morning at military bases. When you hear reveille, it's time to get up, get dressed, and start the day. The bugle plays a specific melody that's been used for centuries to rouse troops from sleep.

The word comes from the French réveillez, meaning “wake up!” In the military, reveille marks the official start of the day's duties. Soldiers hear it early, often at sunrise or even before. At many bases, the flag is raised during reveille as part of a morning ceremony.

Some summer camps and boarding schools also use reveille to wake students, usually playing a recording over loudspeakers rather than having someone actually blow a bugle. The tradition gives these places a structured, disciplined feel.

A common evening bugle call that contrasts with reveille is taps, which is played at night to signal lights out and bedtime. Together, these calls bookend the military day, marking when to wake and when to sleep. When someone jokes about hearing reveille, they usually mean they had to wake up very early for something important or challenging.