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 center of the curve is what is referred to as optimal arousal and performance.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
The law is represented by a bell curve with low arousal (or stress) on the left side and high arousal on the right side.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
Some couples also turn to specific foods that are purported to increase arousal − foods that are known as aphrodisiacs.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
Certain centers in the brain—like the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus—control memory, arousal, and brain reward.
—Joy Emeh, Health, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for arousal 
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Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
The law is represented by a bell curve with low arousal (or stress) on the left side and high arousal on the right side.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
Some couples also turn to specific foods that are purported to increase arousal − foods that are known as aphrodisiacs.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
Certain centers in the brain—like the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus—control memory, arousal, and brain reward.
—Joy Emeh, Health, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for arousal
Dictionary Entries Near arousal
Cite this Entry
“Arousal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arousal. Accessed 21 Nov. 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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