carouse

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "carouse" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb which typically means to engage in boisterous, drunken revelry. Example sentence: We caroused all night after the party.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The bank's pinstriped researchers shun pricey hotel cocktail lounges and venture into the sort of bars, such as Muthama's, where ordinary Africans carouse.

The Economist

The real star of the show, however, is production designer Bo Welch, whose Asgard is a magnificent celestial sprawl; the banqueting hall where the gods carouse, a gilded chamber laden with fruit and foliage, resembles the lobby of a modish Dubai hotel.

Independent

Tons of expats to carouse with about how the old country has "gone down the dumper".

Independent

She has hair big enough to cover her face, and she proved on OCheers" that she knows how to carouse.

The New Yorker

I stayed in a Sheraton, then the nicest hotel in Damascus, and every night the senior officials of the Baath Party, some of them wearing pistols in their belts, would gather to drink and dance and carouse.

The New Yorker

Still, one gets the idea by reading the rewrite of Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off": My reputation's sown with rumors' threads: it's said that I carouse, am void of wit, and have amassed more beaus than Hydra's heads yet cannot make a single one commit.

The New Yorker

This is where Penn comes to write, edit, drink, carouse, and wheel and deal.

The New Yorker

Yvonne (Yvonne Williams) is pregnant and living with her husband, Homer (Homer Nish), a layabout and a gambler, who drops her off at a movie theatre and forgets her there while he goes off to carouse with friends.

The New Yorker

Sixty years later, the work remains a hilarious and upsetting portrait of postwar Ireland and the American G.I.s who showed up there, with the prerogative and the wherewithal to carouse and copulate on a level that the locals did not appreciate.

The New Yorker

They carouse.

Independent

The word carouse has appeared in four New York Times articles in the past year, including on Aug. 18 in "On Motorcycle, European Pilgrims Race Toward God," by Scott Sayare: PORCARO, France — The inhabitants of Brittany, on Europe's rain-soaked western edge, are said to love the church as much as they love a party.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "carouse" to describe lively, often drunken, social gatherings. It adds a touch of historical or literary flair to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "carouse" to describe quiet or refined enjoyment. It implies boisterous and possibly excessive behavior.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "carouse" is as an intransitive verb, describing the act of engaging in boisterous, drunken social activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "carouse" functions as a verb describing boisterous and often drunken merrymaking. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage, and its presence is common across numerous journalistic sources. While grammatically sound, its connotation suggests lively, occasionally excessive, behavior; therefore, writers must ensure proper contextual use. Synonyms like "revel" or "make merry" can provide milder alternatives if the situation doesn't warrant the intense imagery of "carouse". Although commonly found in journalistic and literary works, "carouse" should be used with discretion to appropriately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

revel

Similar action that emphasizes enjoyment and celebration, often without the implication of drunkenness.

make merry

Focuses on lighthearted enjoyment and festive cheer, often in a social setting.

paint the town red

An idiomatic expression suggesting lively and exuberant celebration, typically involving going out.

live it up

Describes a lifestyle of pleasure and indulgence, but can imply excess.

whoop it up

Emphasizes noisy and unrestrained celebration, often with a sense of excitement.

indulge in revelry

Formally conveys the concept of enjoying festive activities, and often suggests excess.

engage in debauchery

Suggests immoral behavior or excess, and often highlights the negative consequences of unrestrained pleasure-seeking.

go on a spree

Emphasizes unrestrained indulgence in an activity like drinking or partying.

party hard

This expression emphasizes intense partying and enjoyment, with potential implications of excessive drinking.

kick up one's heels

Suggests a carefree and joyful celebration, implying a release from responsibilities.

FAQs

How to use "carouse" in a sentence?

You can use "carouse" to describe engaging in a noisy or drunken social gathering. For example, "They "caroused" all night at the pub."

What can I say instead of "carouse"?

You can use alternatives like "revel", "make merry", or "party hard" depending on the context.

Is "carouse" a formal or informal word?

"Carouse" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it often carries a slightly literary or historical tone, so use it judiciously depending on your audience.

What is the difference between "carouse" and "celebrate"?

"Celebrate" is a general term for enjoying a special occasion, while "carouse" specifically implies boisterous and often drunken revelry. While you can "celebrate" with a quiet dinner, you "carouse" with a loud, rowdy party.