awakening

noun

awak·​en·​ing ə-ˈwāk-niŋ How to pronounce awakening (audio)
ə-ˈwā-kə-
plural awakenings
1
: a rousing from sleep
The night terror is an abrupt awakening early in the night, most often within the first hour or two of sleep …Franklin Galvin et al.
2
a
: a rousing from inactivity or indifference
… one of the primary branches of yoga … prescribes various practices to assist the yogi in the gradual awakening of the heart.James Bailey
b
: a revival of interest in something (such as religion)
Russian Jews themselves experienced a cultural and political awakening after Israel's victory, some openly challenging their government's ban on religious and Hebrew training.Jonathan D. Sarna
3
: a coming into awareness
Like his discovery of literature, this intimacy becomes an awakening to the possibilities of life.Morris Dickstein

Examples of awakening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Then, after nearly 800 years of volcanic silence, a maelstrom of earthquakes that started in early 2020 and lasted 15 months implied that an eruptive awakening was nigh. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 19 Dec. 2023 The boys, in their adolescent confusion and awakening, waver between the impulse to save and the impulse to hurt. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 Even conservatives who dislike being woke are in need of a cultural awakening. Armond White, National Review, 21 Feb. 2024 In stains of pink and black and quivering images that unravel and reassemble across generations, Kantor taps into a young person’s anguish and awakening. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Devotion to justice breeds friendship Soble, who grew up in Massachusetts, met Ameri after his own political awakening, also in the late 1960s. USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024 Jerome Bias’ awakening came 15 years ago at Furnitureland South, the mega-size home furnishings store outside High Point. Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024 In her new book, Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines, Buolamwini describes her own awakenings to the clear and present dangers of today’s AI. IEEE Spectrum, 27 Nov. 2023 The search for usable data Several studies have documented the reactivation (or awakening) of a dormant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in some COVID-19 patients. Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'awakening.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of awakening was in 1583

Dictionary Entries Near awakening

Cite this Entry

“Awakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awakening. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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