To rouse means to wake someone up or stir them into action. When your mom rouses you on a Saturday morning, she's getting you out of bed, probably because you have somewhere to be. A loud noise might rouse a sleeping dog, bringing him from deep sleep to alert attention in seconds.

The word carries a sense of energy and movement, describing both physical waking and stirring people into feeling or doing something. A powerful speech might rouse a crowd to action. An exciting story can rouse your imagination. When a coach gives a rousing pep talk before the big game, she's firing up the team, getting everyone energized and ready to compete.

Rouse suggests bringing someone from a quiet or inactive state into one of energy or alertness. You might rouse yourself to finish homework when you'd rather relax, or a teacher might try to rouse a sleepy afternoon class with an interesting activity. When something rouses you, it pulls you out of stillness and gets you moving, thinking, or feeling more intensely.