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Meaning & use

carousing

verb, noun·Advancedold-fashioned

Last updated

UK/kəˈraʊzɪŋ/
US/kəˈraʊzɪŋ/

“carousing” is a form of “carouse”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbintransitivedisapproving

    Drinking a lot of alcohol and having a loud, merry, rowdy time with others.

    Grammar: Has no object; often used with with or in a place: carousing with friends in the tavern.

    Patterns

    • carousing with someone
    • carousing in a place
    • carousing all night

    The sailors spent the night carousing in the harbor taverns.

    He was fined for carousing in the street after midnight.

    They were carousing with old friends until dawn.

  2. noununcountableliterary

    The activity of noisy drinking and merrymaking, especially when it goes on for a long time.

    Grammar: Used as a mass noun: the carousing went on for hours.

    Patterns

    • a night of carousing
    • the sound of carousing

    The sound of carousing drifted from the inn.

    Years of carousing finally caught up with him.

    The novel opens with a long scene of carousing.

Common combinations

carousing with friends
He spent every payday carousing with friends.
carousing all night
The students were carousing all night after the final match.
carousing in taverns
The ballad describes soldiers carousing in taverns.
drunken carousing
Drunken carousing kept the neighbors awake.
stop carousing
The landlord told them to stop carousing and go home.

Synonyms and how they differ

revelling
Revelling (revelling in British spelling) suggests joyful celebration and need not involve much drinking.
partying
Partying is a plain modern word, while carousing sounds older and rowdier.
binge drinking
Binge drinking focuses on the amount of alcohol and carries a health warning that carousing does not.
making merry
Making merry is warmer and more innocent, whereas carousing hints at excess.

Opposites

abstaining

Word family

carouse verb
to drink and celebrate noisily
carouser noun
a person who carouses
carousal noun
an old word for a drinking party

Commonly confused: carousing or carousel?

carousing vs carousel

A carousel is a merry-go-round or a baggage belt at an airport. Carousing is about noisy drinking.

Practice

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