1
2
as in to awake
to cease to be asleep
she usually wakens when sunlight begins to stream through the windows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of waken
However, my condo association includes several dozen inland three-story condominium buildings, which means that the chance that our residents will be wakened by their building collapsing around them is near zero.
—
Bruce Strom, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025
More than that, there is obvious attraction — Mags has a bisexual side that suddenly wakens from long slumber.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
The dogs were asleep in their kennels at the time and wakened only when the would-be thief was discovered by the staff.
—Anne F. Thurston, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2016
As the world—wakened by the recent terrorist attacks in Baghdad, Beirut, Paris, and now in California and London, too—struggles to defeat the Islamic State (also called ISIS), the answer is more important than ever.
—Jacob Olidort, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2015
Or later consciousness resurfaces in the morning on my return to the wakening world.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2017
Two easy arm swing stretches to waken your shoulders after hours hunched over computers and phones.
—Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 19 May 2020
The startling display of acrobatics came, according to police, on Oct. 19, after homeowners in the 700 block of Pershing Drive in Silver Spring were wakened about 2:15 a.m. by the sound of a door.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2019
Before the Sword, by Grace Lin Mulan crept into her house, even though the Rabbit had told her the villagers would not waken even with the loudest of noises.
—David Canfield, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2019
Bruce Strom, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025
More than that, there is obvious attraction — Mags has a bisexual side that suddenly wakens from long slumber.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
The dogs were asleep in their kennels at the time and wakened only when the would-be thief was discovered by the staff.
—Anne F. Thurston, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2016
As the world—wakened by the recent terrorist attacks in Baghdad, Beirut, Paris, and now in California and London, too—struggles to defeat the Islamic State (also called ISIS), the answer is more important than ever.
—Jacob Olidort, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2015
Or later consciousness resurfaces in the morning on my return to the wakening world.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2017
Two easy arm swing stretches to waken your shoulders after hours hunched over computers and phones.
—Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 19 May 2020
The startling display of acrobatics came, according to police, on Oct. 19, after homeowners in the 700 block of Pershing Drive in Silver Spring were wakened about 2:15 a.m. by the sound of a door.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2019
Before the Sword, by Grace Lin Mulan crept into her house, even though the Rabbit had told her the villagers would not waken even with the loudest of noises.
—David Canfield, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waken
Verb
-
And while Stitch stands over her protectively, looking confused but not trying to wake her, tiny Taco has a different approach.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Gently wake them up when the alarm goes off, encourage them to stay awake for a few minutes before falling back asleep.—
David Metzger,
Parents,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Carroll, in an interview before his death, recalled being awoken one night at 3:30 a.m. by a ringing phone from a top skating official.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2025
-
In both, the protagonist is awoken by the game’s main heroine, have completely lost their memory, and both focus on the survivors of a great calamity — with Earth being destroyed in Xenoblade, and Ganon destroying Hyrule in Zelda.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The visible algae was able to be awakened from dormancy from nine sediment samples under favorable nutrient and light conditions, the researchers said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Within recent years, extravagant excursions have evolved from pure indulgence to experiences leaving the traveler feeling enriched and awakened.—
Martie Bowser,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The whoops and applause from family members and supporters in the crowd accompanied the rousing music and spectacular light show.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Dunmore’s informants quickly reported the guards’ absence and roused him from sleep at the nearby Governor’s Palace.—
Andrew Lawler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waken. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share