arouse
To stir up a feeling, or to wake someone up.
arouse in a sentence
- The strange noise in the attic was enough to arouse our curiosity.
- Nothing could arouse the sleeping dog, not even the doorbell.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to arouse?
- Acalm
- Bsoothe
- Cstir
- Ddampen
Show the answer
C: stir. The other three mean the opposite of arouse.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to arouse?
- Aawaken
- Bstir
- Cexcite
- Dcalm
Show the answer
D: calm. The other three mean nearly the same as arouse.
Words that mean something similar
stir, awaken, excite
Words that mean the opposite
calm, soothe, dampen
More words about emotions & feelings
- astonish: To surprise someone very much.
- awe: A feeling of great wonder and respect, sometimes mixed with a little fear.
- bemused: Puzzled and unsure about what is going on.
- bewitch: To put a magic spell on someone, or to completely charm them.
- blissful: Completely and perfectly happy.
- brood: To keep thinking sadly or angrily about something.
- burden: A heavy load to carry, or a worry that weighs on your mind.
- captivate: To hold someone's attention completely because they find something wonderful.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test