awake

[ uh-weyk ]

verb (used with or without object)

, a·woke [uh, -, wohk] or a·waked, a·woke or a·waked or a·wo·ken [uh, -, woh, -k, uh, n], a·wak·ing.

1. to wake up; rouse from sleep:

   I awoke at six with a feeling of dread.

2. to rouse to action; become active:

   His flagging interest awoke.

3. to come or bring to an awareness; become cognizant (often followed by to ):

   She awoke to the realities of life.

adjective

1. waking; not sleeping.
2. vigilant; alert:

   They were awake to the danger.

awake

/ əˈweɪk /

verb

1. to emerge or rouse from sleep; wake
2. to become or cause to become alert
3. usually foll by to to become or make aware (of)

   to awake to reality

4. Alsoawaken tr to arouse (feelings, etc) or cause to remember (memories, etc)

adjective

1. not sleeping
2. sometimes foll by to lively or alert

Usage

See wake 1

Other Words From

• a·wakea·ble adjective
• half-a·wake adjective
• rea·wake verb reawoke or reawaked reawaking
• una·wake adjective
• una·wakea·ble adjective
• una·waked adjective
• una·waking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of awake¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English awaken, Old English awacen, past participle of awæcnan; a ¹, waken

Word History and Origins

Origin of awake¹

Old English awacian, awacan; see wake ¹

Example Sentences

The sleep group had a 45-minute nap, while the wake group remained awake, watching a documentary.

From Science Daily

She lay awake frozen in fear all night and in the morning he left.

From BBC

The night before the fire exploded, the eerie howl of the Santa Ana winds kept some awake.

From Los Angeles Times

Diaz said he awoke to a baseball bat bashing his head, causing wounds that required 10 stitches to heal.

From Los Angeles Times

Hours earlier, just before dawn, he had been awoken by a phalanx of officers who had stormed into the small Hollywood apartment he shared with his mother and sister.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alive
• attentive
• aware
• cognizant
• vigilant