Arousal
/əˈroʊzəl/
nounB2
Definition
Arousal means the condition of being awake and ready to respond. It can refer to physical signs like a faster heartbeat or mental alertness, and it often happens when someone feels excited, interested, or stimulated by something.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
Physical or mental state of being alert or excited
- •The loud noise caused arousal in the sleeping baby.
- •Exercise increases arousal by raising your heartbeat.
- •Arousal helps athletes focus during competition.
Sexual excitement or readiness
- •The movie scene caused sexual arousal in the audience.
- •Understanding arousal is important in human relationships.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "arousal" like "wake up," but not just from sleep—it's waking up your body and mind to be active and ready
- ✓Picture your heart beating faster and your eyes opening wide when you hear exciting news or see something interesting
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you are excited before a sports game or a big event
- ✓Sounds like "a-ROSE-uhl" → imagine a rose suddenly opening up, becoming bright and alive, just like your body becoming alert
- ✓In stories, characters feel arousal when they are nervous or excited before an important moment
- ✓NOT like "sleep" (resting, quiet), arousal is about being active and awake
- ✓NOT like "calm" (relaxed and quiet), arousal is about energy and attention
- ✓NOT like "fear" (negative feeling), arousal can be positive or neutral, just being alert or excited
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Alertness: being awake and paying attention (Use when focusing on mental readiness)
- •Stimulation: something that causes activity or excitement (Use when something causes arousal)
- •Excitement: strong feeling of happiness and energy (Use when arousal is about positive feelings)
- •Awakening: becoming awake from sleep (Use when arousal means waking up physically)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "a-" (a prefix meaning "to" or "toward") + "rousal" (from "rouse," meaning to wake or excite)
- •Etymology: From English verb "rouse," which means to wake up or stir; "arousal" is the noun form meaning the act or state of waking up or exciting
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe waking or stirring up; later expanded to mean mental and physical excitement
- •Modern usage: Common in psychology and biology to describe the body's state of readiness or excitement, including sexual arousal and general alertness
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does arousal affect your ability to learn or focus in different situations?
•Can arousal be both helpful and harmful? When might too much arousal cause problems?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Loud sounds often cause arousal by ___ a person from sleep or rest.
2.Arousal is important before sports events because it helps athletes ___ better.
3.Unlike calmness, arousal means the body is ___ and ready to act.
4.Sexual arousal is a type of arousal that involves ___ feelings.
5.You might feel arousal when something ___ your interest or attention suddenly.
6.High arousal can sometimes make it hard to ___ or relax.
7.When a teacher notices low arousal in class, they try to ___ students' attention.