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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
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
She was wakened by an early morning phone call from family in Australia telling her the princess had died in a Paris car accident, then raced to the palace with her daughter and was among the first to leave a floral tribute.
—Danica Kirka, The Seattle Times, 31 Aug. 2017
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
She was wakened by an early morning phone call from family in Australia telling her the princess had died in a Paris car accident, then raced to the palace with her daughter and was among the first to leave a floral tribute.
—Danica Kirka, The Seattle Times, 31 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waken
Verb
-
Smart alarm clocks wake you during your lightest sleep phase, while circadian rhythm apps help optimize light exposure, caffeine, and sleep timing for a smoother adjustment.—
Maria Sokolina,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Being on the lake and being able to go wake surfing and going for sunset rides with your buddies and stuff.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our update on Lebanese soccer player Celine Haidar, who awoke from her coma this week.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
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But the Sierra Nevada mountains awoke Saturday to a beautiful bluebird day with very little wind and lots of sunshine and powder.—
David Caraccio,
Sacramento Bee,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Mark awakens at his sister’s house during her husband Ricken’s book launch event.—
Skyler Trepel,
People.com,
17 Jan. 2025
-
He was awakened by a phone call at dawn the next morning.—
Michael Gordon,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The residents of Coffey Park — about 9,000 people — were roused from their beds in a panic and fled through flames and whipping embers.—
Jessica Garrison,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2025
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The crowd gave them a rousing standing ovation when they were done.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near waken
Cite this Entry
“Waken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waken. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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