awakening

American  

[uh-wey-kuh-ning] / əˈweɪ kə nɪŋ /

adjective

1. rousing; quickening.

   an awakening interest in ballet.

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noun

1. the act of awaking from sleep.

2. a revival of interest or attention.

3. a recognition, realization, or coming into awareness of something.

   a rude awakening to the disagreeable facts.

4. a renewal of interest in religion, especially in a community; a revival.

awakening British  

/ əˈweɪkənɪŋ, əˈweɪknɪŋ /

noun

1. the start of a feeling or awareness in a person

   a picture of an emotional awakening

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Other Word Forms

• awakeningly adverb
• reawakening noun
• unawakening adjective

Etymology

Origin of awakening

First recorded in 1585–95; awaken + -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Eiding’s portrayal hints at a man awakening to his own loneliness.

From Los Angeles Times

The opening is an awakening, with group vocalized rhythms, but that is something only a tabla player can really pull off.

From Los Angeles Times

The crowd stood and cheered, now happy that there was a Lakers’ awakening.

From Los Angeles Times

Last month, Coca-Cola released a holiday ad in which a Coca-Cola truck drives through snow and forests, awakening animals and lighting up trees, then pulls up to a town square.

From Los Angeles Times

The first reading L’Belle-Tividad gave was to a group of three of her friends, more than three years after her awakening.

From Los Angeles Times