▪ excite (someone) sexually: "I was surprised to find that this look aroused me"Similarexcitearouse sexuallystimulatemake feel sexually excitedmake feel sexytitillatepleaseattractinformal:turn onget goinggive someone a thrillfloat someone's boatdo it for someonelight someone's firetickle someone's fancyOppositeturn off
2. awaken (someone) from sleep:"she had been aroused by the telephone"Similarwakewake upwakenawakenbring tobring aroundrouseinformal:knock upOppositesend to sleep
Word Originlate 16th century: from rouse, on the pattern of the pair of rise, arise.