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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
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Recent Examples of waken
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
The homeowner was wakened by the sound of knocking at the front door.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, kansascity, 4 Apr. 2018
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
The homeowner was wakened by the sound of knocking at the front door.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, kansascity, 4 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waken
Verb
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If enough pro-LGBTQ forces boycott the store to hurt its stock prices for not being woke enough, will Florida sue the retailer over that as well?—
Scott Maxwell,
Orlando Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2025
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On paper, the itinerary is similar to a yacht charter: Guests wake to a new location each day, and can explore inner lands and riverbanks, while avoiding train stations, hotels, or airports.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Analysts at Wolfe Research believe the popular messaging app is starting to be awoken from its slumber.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2025
-
As this debacle of a season somehow keeps getting worse, the Heat awoke Tuesday in a sobering state: losers of eight in a row, 10 games under .500 for the first time in nine years and now 10th in the East, the final spot that qualifies for the NBA play-in tournament.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Friendly’s staff, now dressed in red cloaks, then summoned the demonic Lamashtu, smeared blood on Jenny, and awakened Mola Ram, the leader of the cult from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
9 Mar. 2025
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Uranus, who is the revolutionary and rebellious celestial body that awakens our senses and urges us to change, has been moonwalking from Sept. 1, 2024, to Jan. 30, 2025, in the sign of Taurus.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There are some moments when The Actor does rouse with inspired romantic set pieces and funny reflections on the whole business of performing.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Mar. 2025
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But the polling indicates that Trump’s absurdity may have roused Canadians to something like normalcy.—
Bill McKibben,
The New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waken. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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