1 [VN] ~ sb (from sleep / bed) (formal) to wake sb up, especially when they are sleeping deeply:
The telephone roused me from my sleep at 6 a.m. * Nicky roused her with a gentle nudge. * He came to the door, evidently just roused from his bed.
2 ~ sb / yourself (to sth) to make sb want to start doing sth when they were not active or interested in doing it:
[VN] A lot of people were roused to action by the appeal. * [VNtoinf] Richard couldn't rouse himself to say anything in reply.
3 [VN] (formal) to make sb feel a particular emotion:
to rouse sb's anger / fear / curiosity * What roused your suspicions (= what made you suspicious)?
4 [VN] [usuallypassive] to make sb angry, excited or full of emotion:
Chris is not easily roused. * When roused, he has a cruel tongue.
seealsoAROUSE
