arousal
noun
arous·al
ə-ˈrau̇-zəl 
plural arousals
1
: the act of arousing someone or something
arousal from sleep
This belated arousal of the hunting instinct seemed to make almost another man of him.—
Jack London
: the state of being aroused
Jack LondonHis work with animals had implicated adrenaline and noradrenaline in emotional arousal and memory.—Daniel Goleman
Daniel Goleman2
: a state of physiological and psychological excitation caused by sexual contact or other erotic stimulation
Studies show 60% of patients taking the drugs experience some form of sexual dysfunction, ranging from loss of desire to problems with arousal and an inability to reach orgasm.—Tara Parker-Pope
Tara Parker-PopeExamples of arousal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the same time, activity near the back of the brain increased, in older regions like the brainstem and visual cortex, which regulate more basic functions like awareness and arousal.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 7 June 2024
The most remarkable finding, Stephan says, is that these people showed pockets of arousal in the form of fast brain waves during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
—Francine Russo, Scientific American, 7 June 2024
Or that yoga and meditation can enhance arousal and desire?
—Amy Abrahams, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2024
Anger management will help reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of the threat arousal, thereby reducing its physiological impact, according to Bernard Golden, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Anger Management Education in Chicago.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for arousal 
Oshan Jarow, Vox, 7 June 2024
The most remarkable finding, Stephan says, is that these people showed pockets of arousal in the form of fast brain waves during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
—Francine Russo, Scientific American, 7 June 2024
Or that yoga and meditation can enhance arousal and desire?
—Amy Abrahams, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2024
Anger management will help reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of the threat arousal, thereby reducing its physiological impact, according to Bernard Golden, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Anger Management Education in Chicago.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for arousal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arousal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near arousal
Cite this Entry
“Arousal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arousal. Accessed 8 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
arousal
noun
arous·al
ə-ˈrau̇-zəl
1
2
: a state of physiological and psychological excitation caused by sexual contact or other erotic stimulation
Studies show 60% of patients taking the drugs experience some form of sexual dysfunction, ranging from loss of desire to problems with arousal …—Tara Parker-Pope, The Wall Street Journal
Tara Parker-Pope, The Wall Street JournalLove words? Need even more definitions?
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